adult in non-breeding plumage (California, USA; 2007-09-27)


Black Turnstone
Arenaria melanocephala

Native Range: North America

Notes: turnstones get their name from the habit of turning over beach pebbles and pieces of seaweed in search of food; to do so, each bird uses its slightly upturned, chisel-like bill; no sexual dimorphism; only rather small differences between breeding and nno-breeding plumages.

bold black-and-white dorsal pattern in flight (California, USA; 2009-03-21)
subadult bird (California, USA; 2006-11-19)

dorsal view of subadult bird (California, USA; 2006-11-19) 		slightly less bold juvenile pattern in flight (California, USA; 2007-09-27)
adult in breeding plumage (California, USA; 2007-09-27) juvenile, with somewhat browner apearance (California, USA; 2008-01-31)
breeding plumage, showing white face spot (California, USA; 2009-03-21) breeding plumage, showing white face spot (California, USA; 2006-04-12)