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Ruddy TurnstoneAlternate name(s): "Turnstone", "Beach-bird" Size: 21-26 cm; wing span 50-57 cm Weight: 85-190 g |
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Photos |
Race "interpres"
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ADULT |
Sex unknown |
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BREEDING |
Lateral view of two Ruddy Turnstones in breeding
plumage, with
a Greater
Sand Plover in the background
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, March 2013]
"Assortment" of waders, with two Lesser Sandplovers in
near-breeding
plumage (centre and front left), one Ruddy Turnstone in
breeding plumage
(front right), a second Ruddy Turnstone in non-breeding
plumage (front
centre), one
Greater Sand Plover in breeding plumage (centre right) and a
second Greater
Sand Plover in non-breeding plumage (towards the
back right); on the right and front right there are also two
Red-necked Stints
(the smallest birds in the photo) in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, March 2013]
Lateral view of two Ruddy Turnstones in near-breeding
plumage foraging
on rocky soil (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Government Lake, Rottnest Island, WA, February 2016]
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NON-BREEDING |
Frontal view of a Ruddy Turnstone in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Flat Rock, Ballina, NSW, February 2019]
Frontal view of a Ruddy Turnstone in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Flat Rock, Ballina, NSW, February 2019]
Near-frontal view of a Ruddy Turnstone in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Flat Rock, Ballina, NSW, February 2019]
Near-lateral view of a Ruddy Turnstone in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Lady Elliot Island, near Agnes Water, QLD, January 2016]
Close-up lateral view of a Ruddy Turnstone in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Flat Rock, Ballina, NSW, January 2023]
Close-up lateral view of a Ruddy Turnstone in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Flat Rock, Ballina, NSW, January 2023]
Close-up lateral view of a Ruddy Turnstone in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Flat Rock, Ballina, NSW, February 2019]
Lateral view of two Ruddy Turnstones in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Wellington Point, Brisbane, QLD, December 2018]
Lateral view of a Ruddy Turnstone in non-breeding
plumage
displaying its upperwing pattern while stretching a wing
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, June 2019]
Near-dorsal view of a Ruddy Turnstone stretching one of its wings, thereby
displaying the upperwing pattern
[Bundjalung NP,
NSW, February 2012]
Near-dorsal/ventral view of a Ruddy Turnstone in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Wellington Point, Brisbane, QLD, December 2018]
Dorsal view of a Ruddy Turnstone in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Flat Rock, Ballina, NSW, February 2019]
Dorsal view of a Ruddy Turnstone in non-breeding
plumage
found roosting in a tree
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Darling Harbour, Darwin, NT, January 2016]
Lateral view of Ruddy Turnstones in non-breeding
plumage
displaying their upperwing pattern in flight
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, June 2019]
Lateral view of Ruddy Turnstones in non-breeding
plumage
taking off (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Lady Elliot Island, near Agnes Water, QLD, January 2016]
Lateral view of a Ruddy Turnstone in non-breeding
plumage
in flight, together with several other species of waders
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, July 2017]
Near-dorsal view of a Ruddy Turnstone in flight, wings up
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, February 2020]
Near-dorsal view of a Ruddy Turnstone in flight, wings down
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, February 2020]
Near-dorsal view of Ruddy Turnstones in flight
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lord Howe Island, November 2014]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Direct comparison of a Ruddy Turnstone in non-breeding
plumage
(back) and a juvenile bird (front); note how the young
bird is greyer than the non-breeding adult, which shows
more brown tints and more black on the breast
[Bundjalung NP,
NSW, February 2012]
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Behaviour |
Ruddy Turnstones like to roost in small flocks, often together with other waders.
Ruddy Turnstones resting
[Bundjalung NP,
NSW, February 2012]
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Food, Diet |
Ruddy Turnstones feed mostly on molluscs and small crustacians and during the breeding season also insects.
Ruddy Turnstone digging up a small crustacian
[Bundjalung NP,
NSW, February 2012]
The animal is dragged out of the sand...
[Bundjalung NP,
NSW, February 2012]
... picked up ...
[Bundjalung NP,
NSW, February 2012]
... and finally swallowed
[Bundjalung NP,
NSW, February 2012]
Lateral view of a Ruddy Turnstone in non-breeding
plumage
probing for prey (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Flat Rock, Ballina, NSW, February 2019]
Lateral view of a Ruddy Turnstone in non-breeding
plumage
digging up small prey (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Flat Rock, Ballina, NSW, February 2019]
Lateral view of a Ruddy Turnstone in non-breeding
plumage
with its prey (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Flat Rock, Ballina, NSW, February 2019]
Two Ruddy Turnstones in non-breeding
plumage
foraging in washed-up seaweeds
(photo courtesy of D. Dyer)
[Cervantes, WA, April 2021]