Black Turnstone (Arenaria melanocephala) lives in wet meadows, rocky coasts, beaches, mudflats, jetties across West coast of North America. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Black Turnstone
- The world population of black turnstones is estimated at 95,000 individuals, with about 80,000 of those birds concentrated in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, the species' main stronghold. This delta holds the bulk of the population, reflecting the bird's preference for coastal and riverine habitats in western Alaska. The species breeds only in Alaska, ranging from the Alaska Peninsula to Point Hope, and the majority of its nests are found within this delta region.
- The black turnstone uses its upturned bill to flip stones, algal mats and other objects while foraging, exposing hidden crustaceans, mollusks and insects. Its diet is dominated by invertebrates, especially crustaceans and mollusks in winter and insects during the breeding season. At breeding sites it feeds mainly in wet meadows with sedges, while in winter it forages along rocky coasts and beaches, exploiting the same bill technique across habitats.
- A characteristic rattling trill, audible throughout the year, forms part of the black turnstone's varied calls. In addition to this trill, the bird produces a loud, screeching alarm call and a soft, purring call directed at its chicks. Males also display a long series of staccato notes while in flight and emit chirruping trills on the ground, giving the species a rich vocal repertoire beyond the basic trill.
- The black turnstone's signature rattling trill can be heard throughout the year and is noticeably higher pitched and less harsh than the similar call of its relative, the ruddy turnstone. In addition to the trill, the bird also produces a loud, screeching alarm call and a gentle, purring call directed at its chicks.
- A lone black turnstone was documented on San Cristóbal Island in the Galápagos, marking an extreme vagrant record for the species. Vagrant individuals have also turned up in northern Canada, with sightings from Yukon and the Northwest Territories.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeWest coast of North America
HabitatWet meadows, rocky coasts, beaches, mudflats, jetties
DietInsects and crustaceans
About the Black Turnstone
As the tide recedes, the black turnstone emerges, its sleek, dark form weaving deftly among the exposed rocks and tidal pools, searching for the hidden treasures of the intertidal zone. With its distinctive black and white plumage glistening in the sunlight, this agile shorebird moves with a quiet confidence, its sharp eyes scanning the terrain for the unsuspecting crustaceans and mollusks that will sustain it on its long migratory journeys. In its element, the black turnstone is a master of the ephemeral world of the shoreline, its very existence a testament to the enduring beauty of adaptation and resilience.
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