The commonest wading bird in Seychelles, often in flocks of 30 or more. Can be seen on rocky shores and remote islands as well as on mudflats. Has bright orange legs and black chest collar. It often flips over stones and other objects to get at prey items hiding underneath; this behaviour is the origin of the name “turnstone”. Winters in the south but some non-breeding birds remain year round in many parts of the wintering range, with some of those birds still taking on breeding plumage in the spring and summer.
Scientific Name: Arenaria interpres
Creole name: Bezroz
Wingspan: 50-57cm
Population in Seychelles: Unknown
World Distribution: Breeds in northern latitudes, usually no more than a few kilometres from the sea. Migrate to southern coasts all over the world.
Habitat: Breeds near the coast or up to several kilometres inland in the high Arctic, nesting on coastal plains, marshes and tundra and showing a preference for mosaics of bare rock, clay or shingle and vegetation near water or in areas that remain damp until late summer
Nests: Shallow depression in mud, peat or on dry ground with dense vegetation, often positioned on a slight ridge, hummock or tussock, or in cleft or shallow fissure
Diet: Insects, crustaceans, molluscs (especially mussels or cockles), annelids, echinoderms, small fish, carrion and bird eggs
Identification: Fairly small and stocky bird, plumage is dominated by a harlequin-like pattern of black and white. Breeding birds have reddish-brown upper parts with black markings.
See more
Species Fact Sheet at BirdLife Data Zone
(Photo credit: Peter Chadwick)