Black Turnstone

Identification

The black turnstone is a small wading bird, measuring 22–25 centimeters in length and weighing 100–170 grams. Its most distinctive feature is its largely black and white plumage, particularly striking in breeding season when adults display a black head and breast contrasted with a white spot between the eye and bill, a white eyebrow stripe, and white flecks on the breast sides. The upper parts are blackish-brown with pale fringes, while the belly and vent are white. In flight, look for a white wingbar, white shoulder patch, and white tail with a broad black band. The slightly upturned bill is black and relatively short at 20–27 millimeters, while the legs and feet are blackish-brown with a reddish tinge.

In winter plumage, the head and breast become largely dark brown with less white, making the bird less strikingly patterned. Juveniles resemble winter adults but appear browner with buff fringes to the wing-coverts and scapulars. The black turnstone is often confused with the ruddy turnstone, but the latter shows rufous-brown markings on the upper parts, more white on the head and breast, and orange legs that are typically brighter than the black turnstone's.

Range & Habitat

This species is native exclusively to the west coast of North America, breeding only in western Alaska from the Alaska Peninsula south to Point Hope, with the bulk of the population nesting in the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta. The world population is estimated at approximately 95,000 birds. During breeding season, black turnstones nest near the coast, though some populations occur further inland along rivers and lakes, typically in areas with sedges and grasses.

In winter, the species migrates southward along the Pacific coast, ranging from southern Alaska as far as northwestern Mexico, including Baja California and Sonora. During migration, occasional birds appear inland at locations such as the Salton Sea in California and scattered sites across Montana, Wisconsin, Nevada, and Arizona. The species typically winters on rocky shores but also frequents beaches, mudflats, jetties, and breakwaters.

Behaviour & Diet

Black turnstones are named for their foraging behavior: they use their slightly upturned bills to flip over stones, algal mats, and other objects in search of hidden prey. Their diet consists mainly of invertebrates, particularly crustaceans and mollusks in winter and insects during breeding season. They also consume seeds, eggs, and carrion opportunistically. At breeding grounds, they favor wet meadows with sedges.

The species is highly vocal, producing a distinctive rattling trill year-round that is higher and less harsh than that of the similar ruddy turnstone. They also emit loud screeching alarm calls and soft purring vocalizations to chicks. Displaying males produce staccato notes in flight and chirruping trills on the ground. Black turnstones typically arrive at breeding grounds from early May to early June, with males preceding females. They often return to the same territory and pair with the same mate in successive years. Nests are simple scrapes dug mainly by males among sedges, grasses, or under willows, containing four olive or pale greenish eggs with darker spots. Both parents incubate for 21–24 days, and the precocial young can feed themselves shortly after hatching and achieve flight within 25–34 days.

Best Time & Places to See It

Winter is the best season for observing black turnstones outside of Alaska, as they are most accessible along the Pacific coast from southern Alaska to northwestern Mexico. Rocky shores, beaches, and man-made structures like jetties and breakwaters are productive habitats where the birds' feeding behavior can be easily observed. The Salton Sea in southern California offers occasional sightings during migration periods.

For those able to visit Alaska during breeding season (May to June), the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta hosts the vast majority of the global population. However, breeding birds are less readily accessible than wintering populations, as they occupy coastal and inland wetland habitats that may be remote or difficult to reach.

Photography Tips

Black turnstones are most photogenic in breeding plumage, when their bold black and white patterns are most pronounced. Photograph them in their natural feeding behavior, flipping stones and examining the substrate beneath—this characteristic action makes for compelling images that capture the bird's unique foraging technique. Use longer lenses to avoid disturbance, especially at breeding grounds where birds may be nesting.

Rocky coastal habitats provide excellent opportunities for photography, as the contrasting geology frames the bird's striking plumage well. Winter birds appear duller and less contrasty; focus on breeding-season images for maximum visual impact. Early morning light on rocky shores can produce dramatic photography, highlighting the bird's distinctive white markings against dark rocks and plumage.