Ruddy Turnstone
Arenaria interpres
Silhouette: Elaine R. Wilson (modified) · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderCharadriiformes (Shorebirds and Allies)
- FamilyScolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
- GenusArenaria (Turnstones)
- SpeciesArenaria interpres (Ruddy Turnstone)
About the Ruddy Turnstone
The ruddy turnstone (Arenaria interpres) is a small cosmopolitan wading bird, one of two species of turnstone in the genus Arenaria. It is now classified in the sandpiper family Scolopacidae but was formerly sometimes placed in the plover family Charadriidae. It is a highly migratory bird, breeding in northern parts of Eurasia and North America, and flying south to winter on coastlines almost worldwide. It is the only species of turnstone in much of its range and is often known simply as turnstone.
The ruddy turnstone was formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Tringa interpres. The species is now placed together with the black turnstone in the genus Arenaria that was introduced by the French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson in 1760 with the ruddy turnstone as the type species. The genus name arenaria is from Latin arenarius, "inhabiting sand", from arena, "sand". The specific interpres means "messenger"; when visiting Gotland in 1741, Linnaeus thought that the Swedish word Tolk, meaning "interpreter" applied to this species, but in the local dialect the word means "legs"... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Ruddy Turnstone in Snowdonia National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Snowdonia National Park
Eurasian Curlew
Numenius arquata
Common Redshank
Tringa totanus
Dunlin
Calidris alpina
Black-tailed Godwit
Limosa limosa
Common Sandpiper
Actitis hypoleucos
Common Greenshank
Tringa nebularia
Red Phalarope
Phalaropus fulicarius
Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopus
Common Snipe
Gallinago gallinago
Long-billed Dowitcher
Limnodromus scolopaceus
Bar-tailed Godwit
Limosa lapponica
Red Knot
Calidris canutus
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Ruddy Turnstone in Snowdonia National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Ruddy Turnstone sighting in Snowdonia National Park, based on 152 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Ruddy Turnstone in Snowdonia National Park?
September has the highest sighting rate for Ruddy Turnstone in Snowdonia National Park in our monthly data.