Ruddy Turnstone

Characteristics

A sandpiper with a distinctive mottled pattern on its summer plumage. The brown and black mottled pattern on the back was likened to Kyoto women's kimono. Although it belongs to the shorebird family, it has a short beak and legs. The legs are reddish orange. Juvenile birds are dark brown overall compared to adults.

They come to Japan as migratory birds in spring and autumn, and some overwinter in the Nansei Islands. It moves in groups of several to several dozen birds and uses its beak skillfully to forage.

Ecology

It inhabits waterfronts such as sandy beaches and rivers, and looks for food such as insects and crustaceans by flipping pebbles and seaweed with its beak. The English name "Ruddy Turnstone" comes from the habit of turning stones over. It is also known to open and eat bivalve shells.

It builds a nest on the ground in the tundra zone of northern Eurasia and northern North America, lays 3 or 4 eggs and reproduces.

Habitat

Ogasawara Islands Chichijima

A juvenile bird flew to the breakwater of Futami Port on Chichijima Island in the Ogasawara Islands. It looks like it's in the process of growing back into summer plumage, and the mottled pattern on its back isn't very noticeable. Dozens of birds were walking in a flock at Hahajima Oki Port Wharf. It was drinking water from a puddle of rain. It did not take off even when approached to a certain extent, but ran away when it approached a distance of about 3m.