Black Turnstone
Arenaria melanocephala
- Class
- Bird
- Rarity
- Common
- Observations
- 9,350
- Most observed in
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Conservation
- Least Concern
Description
The black turnstone (Arenaria melanocephala) is a species of small wading bird. It is one of two species of turnstone in the genus Arenaria, the ruddy turnstone (A. interpres) being the other. It is now classified in the sandpiper family, Scolopacidae, but was formerly sometimes placed in the plover family, Charadriidae. It is native to the west coast of North America and breeds only in Alaska.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “Black turnstone”.