Arenaria melanocephala
The Black Turnstone (Arenaria melanocephala) is a captivating medium-sized shorebird, renowned for its distinctive foraging technique and striking monochromatic plumage. Averaging 22-25 cm (9-10 inches) in length with a wingspan of 40-45 cm (16-18 inches) and weighing 100-150 grams (3.5-5.3 ounces), its stout body, short orange legs, and chisel-like black bill are characteristic. Key identification marks include a uniformly black head, breast, and upperparts contrasting sharply with a pure wh...
Exclusively a coastal species, the Black Turnstone inhabits rocky shorelines, boulder-strewn beaches, mudflats, and estuaries during non-breeding seasons, and arctic tundra near water for breeding, always at low elevations.
Their diet consists mainly of marine invertebrates such as amphipods, isopods, mollusks, barnacles, and insect larvae, supplemented by fish eggs and occasional carrion, all uncovered by their unique stone-turning technique or by probing and gleaning.
Black Turnstones are primarily diurnal, actively foraging during low tides and roosting in sheltered coastal areas during high tide or at night. Their signature foraging strategy involves deliberately flipping over stones, shells, seaweed, and other debris with their robust bill to expose conceal...
The Black Turnstone has a relatively restricted yet robust geographic distribution. Its breeding range is confined to the western and northern coasts of Alaska, including the Aleutian Islands, the Bering Sea islands (such as St. Lawrence Island and Nunivak Island), and the mainland coast of weste...
Least Concern
- The Black Turnstone's scientific name, Arenaria melanocephala, translates to "sand dweller with a black head," a nod to its preferred habitat and distinctive appearance. - It is one of only two species in the genus Arenaria, the other being the circumpolar Ruddy Turnstone. - This species can li...