Ruddy Turnstone

Arenaria interpres

Sandpipers and Allies (Scolopacidae) · Charadriiformes (Charadriiformes)

eBird · Birds of the World

Practice

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Often mixed up with

In quizzes, players most often confuse Ruddy Turnstone with these birds—either this species was picked by mistake, or the other way around.

Species	Mix-ups
Red Knot Calidris canutus How to tell them apart	132
Ruff Calidris pugnax How to tell them apart	77
Common Redshank Tringa totanus How to tell them apart	47
Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus How to tell them apart	40
Sanderling Calidris alba How to tell them apart	39

Family

Scolopacidae is a large family of shorebirds, or waders, which mainly includes many species known as sandpipers, but also others such as woodcocks, curlews, and snipes. Most of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. There is no evidence that different lengths of bills enable multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.

Order

Charadriiformes (, from Charadrius, the type genus of family Charadriidae) is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 390 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most charadriiform birds live near water and eat invertebrates or other small animals; however, some are pelagic (seabirds), others frequent deserts, and a few are found in dense forest.

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