Lesson 6: "Grasspipers" & Turnstones

Question 1

What are the only TWO species of turnstone found in North America and the world?

Answer 1

1. Ruddy Turnstone
2. Black Turnstone

Surfbirds are also stocky shorebirds with a short, stout bill that love the same marine habitats, so we will be covering that species in this lesson as well.

Question 2

Describe the overall physical characteristics of turnstones.

Try to list 4 features

Answer 2

1. Short, stocky shorebirds
2. Medium-sized but smaller than Killdeer
3. Short legs
4. Short, thick bills

Question 3

What bird is this?

© Brian Avent

Answer 3

Ruddy Turnstone

Breeding plumage

This short-legged, stocky shorebird is unmistakable in its boldly-patterned, black, white, and rufous breeding plumage.

Ruddy Turnstones have a preference for rocky shores, sandy beaches, and mudflats, and are found along most coastlines in the world at some point throughout the year.

In fact, habitat can play an important role in telling the two species apart: Black Turnstone are strictly coastal, while Ruddy Turnstone can be found inland, as well as along the coast.

Question 4

What bird is this?

Photo by Len Blumin

Answer 4

Black Turnstone

Breeding plumage

Strikingly black-and-white patterned with bold black on the head, neck, breast, and back, and a white belly. Black Turnstone are very similar in shape and size to Ruddy Turnstone but they completely lack any rufous on the body and have dull (not bright orange) legs.

In the non-breeding season, Black Turnstone lack any white on the face, head, and neck; although, as seen in this picture, breeding Black Turnstone do exhibit diffuse white facial patches.

Question 5

How can you tell the difference between Ruddy and Black Turnstone?

Answer 5

Black Turnstone
1. Are a bold black-and-white in color (no rufous).
2. Have dark legs (or dull orange).
3. Are a Western-restricted species, so you won’t see them on the east coast!

Ruddy Turnstone
1. Have extensive rufous in breeding plumage.
2. In the non-breeding season, become more brown-and-white, but not black-and-white.
3. Have a bold, u-shaped mark on the neck and shoulder (visible in both seasons).
4. Have bright orange legs.

Question 6

Describe the typical foraging behaviour of the turnstones.

Answer 6

They use their short, sharp triangular bills to turn over debris like stones, algae, seaweeds, and shells to get at food underneath.

Question 7

What is special about the range of Black Turnstone?

Answer 7

They are a western-restricted species.

Black Turnstone are found exclusively along the western Pacific coast of North America, whereas Ruddy Turnstone are found on both coasts (and, in fact, most coastlines in the world).

Question 8

What is the preferred habitat of Black Turnstone?

Answer 8

High-energy rocky shorelines, breakwaters, jetties, and piers in marine habitats.

Black Turnstone are rarely found far from the vicinity of crashing, spraying waves.

Question 9

What bird is this?

© Brian Avent

Answer 9

Black Turnstone

Non-breeding plumage

Now we see the Black Turnstone in non-breeding plumage, which is very similar to its breeding plumage, but lacking the white highlights around the face.

Overall, note the bold black head, neck, and breast (no rufous), white belly, and dull orange legs. Also take in the shoreline habitat! Black Turnstone are seldom found far from crashing waves and rocky shorelines.

Question 10

What birds are these?

© Brian Avent

Answer 10

Ruddy Turnstones

Non-breeding plumage

During the non-breeding season, Ruddy Turnstones lose their bright rufous colors and turn a plainer shade of brown on top, white below. They still, however, have bright orange legs and a dark brown U-shape marking that frames the neck and breast.

Black Turnstones are all-dark from the breast up, which makes them easy to tell apart from Ruddy Turnstone.

Question 11

What bird is this?

© Brian Avent

Answer 11

Surfbird

Non-breeding plumage

Surfbirds are stocky, medium-sized shorebirds with a large head and short, stout bill used for prying barnacles and mussels off of rocks in the intertidal zone.

As their name suggests, you will never find them far from the breaking waves on beaches and rocky shores! Note the short, stout yellow legs and yellow bill base.

Question 12

Describe the overall physical characteristics of a Surfbird.

Answer 12

1. Short, stocky shorebirds
2. Medium-sized
3. Short legs
4. Short, triangular bill

Question 13

What FIVE distinguishing markers can help you tell Surfbirds apart from the other shorebird species it commonly shares its habitat with?

Answer 13

1. Larger size
2. Short, stout bill
3. Yellow at the bill base
4. Short, thick yellow legs
5. Thin white eye-ring

Relative size definitely comes into play when telling Surfbirds apart from the Turnstone they so often share their habitat with. Surfbirds are a larger and stockier overall than the smaller, slimmer Turnstone, making them easy to tell apart, even in poor light conditions, and even though they tend to move about quite quickly and restlessly, foraging and avoiding wave splash.

Question 14

What bird is this?

Photo by Charles J. Sharp

Answer 14

Ruddy Turnstone

Breeding plumage

In flight, Ruddy Turnstone show off a bold white-and-black wing stripe, as well as a white back, shoulders, and tail with dark outer tail feathers. These patterns are similar to Black Turnstone so it is really their more chestnut / brown plumage that will help you tell the difference.

Question 15

What bird is this?

© Brian Avent

Answer 15

Black Turnstone

Non-breeding plumage

These birds are striking in flight with their bold white wing stripes and white patches on the shoulders, back, and rump. Note the strong black-and-white patterning, lack of rufous, and unmarked dark plumage on the face, head, and neck.

Question 16

What diagnostic markers can help you distinguish a Surfbird from a Ruddy or Black Turnstone in flight?

Photo by Alan Schmierer

Answer 16

Surfbirds lack the white shoulders and back of the turnstones.

Although they do have a bold white wing stripe and a white tail with a dark band at the end (as you can see in this image), the lack of white on the shoulders and back easily sets the Surfbird apart from the turnstones.

Rock Sandpiper, which also share a habitat with Surfbirds, can be told apart in flight by their dark centerline down the tail and long, droopy bill (like a Dunlin).

In both cases, relative size is also incredibly helpful. Surfbirds are larger, stockier birds!

Question 17

Aside from the turnstones, what TWO other shorebird species could you possibly confuse a Surfbird with?

Answer 17

1. Wandering Tattler
2. Rock Sandpiper

Both in non-breeding plumage

These two shorebirds have some similar characteristics and are found in the same habitat, sometimes even sharing the same rock!

Question 18

How can you tell a Surfbird apart from a Wandering Tattler?

Try to list 5 differences

Wandering Tattler, non-breeding plumage (© Denise Kitson)

Answer 18

Wandering Tattler:
1. Are overall larger and slimmer.
2. Have much longer bills.
3. Bob their tails constantly.
4. Lack the Surfbird’s bold wing stripe and white tail in flight.
5. Likely to be solitary, not in a flock.

Question 19

How can you tell a Surfbird apart from a Rock Sandpiper?

Try to list 3 differences

Rock Sandpiper

Photo by Vickie J Anderson

Answer 19

Rock Sandpiper
1. Have longer, thinner, slightly drooped bills, like a Dunlin.
2. Have skinnier legs.
3. Have a white tail with a dark line down the center, visible during flight.

Question 20

What bird is this?

© Glen Bodie

Answer 20

Black Turnstone

Non-breeding plumage

Black Turnstone are actually dark brown in their non-breeding plumage, and more black in their breeding plumage.

They love high-energy rocky shorelines along the Pacific coastline and are rarely found far from the vicinity of spraying waves. (They are a western-restricted species rarely found on the east coast of the continent)

Question 21

What bird is this?

© Brian Avent

Answer 21

Ruddy Turnstone

Breeding plumage

Take a closer look at that short, stocky, sharp-ended bill. Turnstones use these to flip over stones, seaweed, shells, and other debris to look for food underneath; hence the name turn stone!

Question 22

What birds are these?

Photo by Alan Schmierer

Answer 22

Surfbird

Non-breeding plumage

Surfbirds spend winter in a very narrow range up the Pacific coastline of North and South America, where they are typically found in the splashy, rocky intertidal zone.

In their plain non-breeding plumage, they have a brown head, neck, and back and white undersides marked with chevrons. Their overall shape and particularly bill shape will help you tell them apart from similar species—like Wandering Tattler and Rock Sandpiper—that like the same habitat.

Question 23

What bird is this?

Wikipedia Commons

Answer 23

Surfbird

Breeding plumage

Compared with the other Surfbirds we have shown you (both in non-breeding plumage) you would be forgiven for thinking this was a totally different shorebird!

Like many other shorebirds, Surfbirds in breeding plumage look remarkably different from their drab brown non-breeding selves. In either season, however, look for

1. The short, stout bill with yellow/orange at the base
2. The stocky, bright yellow legs (somewhat obscurred in this photo)
3. Overall robust shape and large head
4. Thin white eye-ring

Question 24

What is meant by the term ‘grasspipers’?

Answer 24

The group of sandpipers that prefer dry, grassy habitats to the typical shorelines and mudflats liked by most other shorebirds.

The term “Grasspipers” is used informally amongst some birdwatchers. You won’t find it in the dictionary.

Question 25

Which **two shorebird species** are considered grasspipers?

Answer 25

1. Buff-breasted Sandpiper 2. Upland Sandpiper ## Footnote This is not to say that you will never find these birds close to water but even when you do come across, for example, a Buff-breasted Sandpiper in a wetlands habitat, it will most likely be foraging in the **higher, drier parts and grassy patches within the habitat** rather than the mud and water.

Question 26

What bird is this? ## Footnote [Wikipedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Buff-breasted_Sandpiper_(10856889593).jpg)

Answer 26

Buff-breasted Sandpiper ## Footnote This medium-sized shorebird (smaller than a turnstone) loves grassy habitats. Its long legs, medium-length neck, **small head (like a dove)**, and **short bill** give it a unique silhouette. Note its **buffy plumage** and clean, unmarked face, which makes the eye look especially dark and prominent. The back and crown are dark-spotted and the legs are yellow. Unlike the other birds discussed in this deck so far, the "grasspipers" do not show strong plumage variations between the seasons.

Question 27

What bird is this? ## Footnote Photo by [Johnath](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:UplandSandpiperOntarioCropped.jpg)

Answer 27

Upland Sandpiper ## Footnote This medium-sized sandpiper has **unusual proportions** with its long legs, tail, and neck (the lattermost of which is not all that visible in this picture) and a short bill and small head. They also have a **large, dark eye** that stands out quite prominently.

Question 28

What **unique behavior** sets Buff-breasted Sandpiper apart from every other shorebird species in North America?

Answer 28

They have a **lek mating system.** ## Footnote A lek is a gathering of males that engage in competitive **courtship displays** to attract female partners. Male Sage-grouse are famous for their leks but Buff-breasted Sandpiper are special in that they engage in leks, too! The territory upon which each male displays is fiercely guarded; he then opens his wings to display his **gleaming white underwing coverts** to prospective females in the hopes of attracting one (or more) to mate.

Question 29

Which **THREE shorebird species**, which also like dry, grassy habitats (in addition to wetlands, in some cases), could Buff-breasted Sandpiper possibly be confused with?

Answer 29

1. Baird's Sandpiper 2. Upland Sandpiper 3. American Golden-plover ## Footnote 1. **Baird's Sandpiper** have a shorter, stockier "peep" build with short legs and a white, not buffy, belly. 2. **Upland Sandpiper** are larger, with longer legs and neck, and a white (not buffy) belly. 3. **American Golden-plover** are larger with a black cap, white eyebrow stripe, black legs, and short plover bill.

Question 30

What bird is this? ## Footnote Photo by [Gary Eslinger](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Upland_Sandpiper_(13876436034).jpg)

Answer 30

Upland Sandpiper ## Footnote Note the **long, thin neck** and **tringa-like shape** but with a much shorter bill. This silhouette is diagnostic of the Upland Sandpiper. They also have a **long tail** for a shorebird, which is particularly noticable in flight, and a propensity to **alight on fence posts and tree stumps**.

Question 31

What bird is this? ## Footnote Photo by [Tim Lenz](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tryngites_subruficollis_-USA-8.jpg)

Answer 31

Buff-breasted Sandpiper ## Footnote That beautiful buffy plumage—the color of wet beach sand—is a giveaway for the aptly-named Buff-breasted Sandpiper! Also note the **prominent dark eye**, yellow legs, and dark spots on the back and crown. Making identification a little easier, their **plumage does not vary** between the seasons and there isn't much sexual dichromatism either, although males do tend to be larger than females.

Question 32

What are the **preferred habitats** of the Upland Sandpiper?

Answer 32

Short grass prairies, airport fields, and tundra. ## Footnote In fact, in the north-eastern parts of the U.S., the majority of nesting Upland Sandpipers have made their homes on airfields!

Question 33

What **two behaviors** does the Upland Sandpiper exhibit that could serves as clues to its ID?

Answer 33

1. **Perching on fence posts**, tree stumps, and sometimes even telephone wires. 2. **Holding their wings up briefly** after alighting.

Question 34

What bird is this? ## Footnote Photo by [Afsarnayakkan](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Buff_breasted_sandpiper_6.jpg)

Answer 34

Buff-breasted Sandpiper ## Footnote All-over buffy coloring and small head and short bill give this lovely little shorebird away as a Buff-breasted Sandpiper! But also note the habitat. They especially like grasslands, fields, and pastures with **short grass**. This can actually make them quite hard to spot in dry grassy habitats and rutted fields, since their smaller size and plumage help them perfectly blend in and disappear.

Question 35

What bird is this? ## Footnote [Wikipedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bartramia_longicauda_Dakota_Grassland.jpg)

Answer 35

Upland Sandpiper ## Footnote You might not be able to see its long, yellow legs but that **long, skinny neck** and large, prominent eye in a small head is a dead giveaway for the Upland Sandpiper. (This is not even to mention the spot-on grasslands habitat.) The bill is also short, slim, and yellow beneath, dark on top with a dark tip.

Question 36

Which is the **ONLY shorebird in the ‘Grasspipers & Turnstones’ subgroup** that stays in North America **in the summer** instead of migrating elsewhere to breed?

Answer 36

Upland Sandpiper

Question 37

Which **TWO shorebirds in the ‘Grasspipers & Turnstones’ subgroup** do not spend winter in the U.S. and Canada AT ALL? ## Footnote ... so if it is the middle of winter in North America, it would be very unlikely that you would see either of these species...

Answer 37

1. Buff-breasted Sandpiper 2. Upland Sandpiper