Scientific name:

Arenaria interpres

About:

A medium sized, plover-like bird of rocky shores and gravel beaches. In the winter they are dark brown above, with a black pattern on the face and breast, a white chin and white belly.

How to identify:

<p><strong></strong>Unmistakeable. When they fly, turnstones have a big white patch on the back, broad white wing bars and white patches at the base of the tail.<strong><span></span></strong></p>

Where:

A common winter visitor to our coasts. Small numbers may be found all the year round.

Fantastic facts:

Known in North America as the ruddy turnstone. There is a second species, the black turnstone that lives on the Pacific coast of North America.