Turnstone - Hebridean Birds
Western Isles Birds - Turnstone - Hebridean Birds -
Turnstones - A small colourful wading shore bird - smaller than a redshank, turnstones have a characteristic tortoiseshell mottled appearance with brown or chestnut and black upper parts.
These birds can be seen in the Western Isles around the rocky coasts and sandy beaches. When running you can see these birds on the Western Isles sands moving their heads and necks rhythmically back and forth when searching for food.
|
|
|
|
|


Bird Overview - Turnstone |
Family |
|
Latin name |
|
Population |
|
Similar Species |
|
Description |
A small colourful shore bird - smaller than a redshank, turnstones have a characteristic tortoiseshell mottled appearance with brown or chestnut and black upperparts.
These birds have a brown and white or black and white head pattern. These birds are dumpy - their underparts are white and the legs are orange yellow.
They have a short pointed bill - sometimes slightly upturned. In non breeding plumage upperparts are dark brown, the throat white and they have a dark breast patch.
The female is a little less colourful than the male bird.
|
|
Size |
120g - 23cm length - 54cm wingspan |
|
Habitat |
These birds can be seen in the Western Isles around the rocky coasts and sandy beaches.
|
|
Food |
Summer, mostly insects, wider range of invertebrates and other material at other times
|
Voice |
Clear rattled and soft 'kyug'
|
|
Breeding |
The turnstone breeds between May and July usually in the Tundra zone of the Arctic - there are 4 eggs and incubation is 22 - 23 days and the young fledge at 19 - 21 days. these lovely birds nest on the ground. The nest is a shallow depression in mud, peat or on dry ground. Sustenance is usually from insects.
|
|
Misc. Info |
The Turnstone perhaps named as with their strong bills and necks, they flip stones of almost their own body weigh. In fact it has been recorded feeding on a very wide range of prey, including bird's eggs, chips and even corpses. In addition periwinkles are eaten and limpets are prised off rocks.
Birds pass through western Europe 'en route' to their wintering areas along tropical and sub-tropical coasts in Africa. The birds which stay in Britain in winter are mostly from Canada and Greenland. Some birds can be found in wintering areas during the summer months. These are usually sub-adults which do not breed until they are 3-6 years old.
When running you can see these birds on the Western Isles sands moving their heads and necks rhythmically back and forth when searching for food.
|
|
|
