Turnstone Diet and Size: Feeding Habits, Predators, and Measurements
Arenaria interpres, commonly referred to as Turnstone, is a small bird that wades through water, and it is one of the two species in the Arenaria genus.
This bird is highly migratory, breeding in northern parts of Eurasia and North America, and then flying south to winter on coasts almost all over the world. It’s currently classified under the sandpiper family Scolopacidae.
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The Dietary Habits Of The Turnstone
Let’s take a look at what a Turnstone eats during different times of the year and what to feed a baby Turnstone.
What Does A Turnstone Eat?
During breeding season, Turnstones mainly eat midges and larval flies, but also consume insects like bees, wasps, beetles, and spiders.
Turnstones look for food by flipping over shells, pebbles, and rocks with their upturned beaks. Before the insects appear in summer, they pick at dead fish that wash up on shore.
Outside of breeding season, their diet becomes more varied, including molluscs, bird eggs, and small crustaceans.
What To Feed A Baby Turnstone?
Adult Turnstones provide their chicks with various small insects abundant in their marshy nesting grounds. The chicks can feed themselves shortly after they hatch but still need their parents to show them where to find plenty of food like midges and other insects early in life.
As they grow, the chicks continue to eat small invertebrates and develop the ability to flip over debris and pebbles for food, just like their parents. This quick self-feeding skill helps them grow rapidly and prepare for migration within weeks of hatching.
Breeding Habits Of Turnstones
Turnstones are remarkable birds with breeding behaviours tied to their tough Arctic surroundings. They breed in tundra and rocky areas of the high Arctic, including parts of Greenland, Europe, Russia, and North America.
These birds are monogamous, usually returning to the same location each year to mate with the same partner. The female picks the nesting spot within the male’s territory and makes a simple nest called a scrape, often lining it with bits of vegetation.
The chicks are precocial, meaning they are quite mature and able to move soon after hatching, and can feed themselves, although they still depend on their parents for guidance to food sources.
Do Turnstones Mate For Life?
Turnstones often exhibit monogamous breeding habits, frequently returning to the same breeding sites and reuniting with the same partner annually. This strong fidelity to their breeding and wintering territories is essential for their survival and contributes to the ecological stability of their habitats.
The Size & Weight Of Turnstones
Now, let’s take a look at the weight range of Turnstones and see their typical size, from their body length to their wingspan.
How Much Does A Turnstone Weigh?
Turnstones generally weigh from 85 to 150 grams (about 3 to 5.2 ounces). Their weight can change somewhat based on their location and the season, as they often gain weight to prepare for lengthy migratory journeys.
How Big Is A Turnstone?
They usually measure between 21 and 24 centimetres in length (8.2 to 9.4 inches) and have a wingspan of about 50 to 57 centimetres (19.7 to 22.4 inches).
Turnstones are small, sturdy shorebirds with notable features. Their bright orange legs and distinct black-and-white markings on their head and chest make them easily recognisable.
Are Turnstones Under Threat?
Turnstones encounter various risks that threaten their population and habitats. These risks include losing their habitats, pollution from plastics, changes in food supply, and climate change.
They are classified as an Amber List species in the UK under the Birds of Conservation Concern, which shows that Turnstones are of moderate conservation concern. This highlights the need for continuous monitoring and conservation actions to ensure their survival.
What Eats A Turnstone?
Throughout their life cycle, Turnstones are hunted by several predators.
In the Arctic breeding season, their eggs and chicks are especially vulnerable to birds such as Long-tailed and Parasitic Jaegers, Glaucous Gulls, common ravens, and mammals like Arctic foxes. These predators are experts at locating nests and can greatly impact turnstone numbers by eating the young and eggs.
Adults are occasionally preyed upon by Eurasian sparrowhawks, Peregrine falcons, merlins, and owls.
Where Can I See Turnstones In The UK?
Turnstones, being migratory birds, can still be found in the UK throughout the year. They arrive at different times; some stay for the winter, while others just pass through during migration periods.
The east coast of Scotland, with locations like Montrose Basin and Loch Fleet, is ideal for spotting Turnstones. These areas provide the rocky shores and intertidal zones that Turnstones prefer for their feeding and resting needs.
SEE ALSO: Turnstone Life Cycle: Nest Building To Fledging (and everything in between)
Frequently Asked Questions
Turnstone birds usually measure between 21 and 24 centimetres in length (8.2 to 9.4 inches) and have a wingspan of about 50 to 57 centimetres (19.7 to 22.4 inches).
Yes, Turnstones do turn stones. They use their upturned beaks to flip over shells, pebbles, and rocks to find food underneath.
You can identify a Turnstone by its bright orange legs and distinct black-and-white markings on its head and chest, which make it easily recognisable.
No, Turnstones do not have red legs; they have bright orange legs.
