Turnstone is the name of two species of small shore birds. The name refers to their habit of turning over shells and pebbles with their bills as they look for food. The ruddy turnstone nests on tundras (treeless plains) in arctic regions worldwide. In winter it flies as far south as South America, Africa, and Australia, reaching both coasts of the United States in its migrations. It is about 9 inches (23 centimeters) long, with black, white, and reddish-brown feathers in a complex pattern. The pattern helps camouflage the bird when it sits on its nest on the ground.
The black turnstone is slightly larger than the ruddy turnstone and lacks the reddish color. It nests along the shores of the Bering Sea in Alaska and winters from southeastern Alaska to Lower California.
