Black Turnstone
There are only two species of Turnstone on the planet. The Ruddy Turnstone (aka Turnstone) breeds right round the Arctic and winters on coasts very widely, including Britain. The Black Turnstone is much more restricted, and breeds only near the coast in Alaska. When not breeding it is found on rocky shores right down the Pacific coast as far as Baja. Its scientific name is Arenaria melanocephalus which translates as black head, of the sand, which is odd as they are found on rocky coasts. They are also reputed to be aggressive around their nests and will attack birds that are much larger than themselves like skuas and gulls. In summer their plumage is blacker, with some white patches on the face but this browner bird is in non-breeding plumage, and I have to admit it is rather nondescript. But when it takes flight it reveals a dazzling pattern like this: www.flickr.com/photos/timmelling/52496291719/in/photolist I photographed this one on seaweed covered rocks near Monterey.
Black Turnstone
There are only two species of Turnstone on the planet. The Ruddy Turnstone (aka Turnstone) breeds right round the Arctic and winters on coasts very widely, including Britain. The Black Turnstone is much more restricted, and breeds only near the coast in Alaska. When not breeding it is found on rocky shores right down the Pacific coast as far as Baja. Its scientific name is Arenaria melanocephalus which translates as black head, of the sand, which is odd as they are found on rocky coasts. They are also reputed to be aggressive around their nests and will attack birds that are much larger than themselves like skuas and gulls. In summer their plumage is blacker, with some white patches on the face but this browner bird is in non-breeding plumage, and I have to admit it is rather nondescript. But when it takes flight it reveals a dazzling pattern like this: www.flickr.com/photos/timmelling/52496291719/in/photolist I photographed this one on seaweed covered rocks near Monterey.