Bird of the Week – Ruddy Turnstone
WC was in Peru earlier this month, and saw a Ruddy Turnstone there, 13° south of the equator. The bird quite possibly had flown south from Alaska. The comparatively small shorebird has a very long migration.
Ruddy Turnstone, St. Paul Island, Pribilof Islands, Alaska
(Actually, this bird if a bit of a puzzle. Photographed in late May, it should have been in more gaudy breeding plumage. Maybe it didn’t get the memo?)
Ruddy Turnstones in full breeding plumage, St. Paul Island, Pribilof Islands, Alaska
(You can see how much snappier these fellows look)
Pluages issues aside, this is a tough little bird, one of the most northerly breeding species, with an epic migration. It’s holarctic, meaning it occurs in the Old World as well.
WC has never seen a Ruddy Turnstone actually turn over a stone.
For more bird photos, please visit Frozen Feather Images.
Prolly not that many leaves in the arctic for these birds to turn, so they use rocks whether you see them or not.
The lack of the more GQ variety..at the moment..may simply be a result of the horrendous trip, combined with the temps..encountered..along the way. Climate changes..by even so tiny increments..may mean that sturdy fellow ..’feels the need’..to fly up/over..the top and keep going until the req. temp… is encountered. Bless its heart..and may the ladies ..see him..as a sturdy original!