Arica, Chile
February 2007

The Ruddy Turnstone breeds on the stony coastal plains and tundra surrounding the Arctic Ocean. In winter they migrate far south with European and Asian breeders moving to western Europe, Africa, southern Asia and Australia while the sub-species A. i. morinella (shown in these images) breeding in North America overwinters on the coasts of Central and South America.

It is a stocky sandpiper with short, orange legs and a short, slightly upturned bill. In non-breeding plumage it is brown above with a distinctive breast and neck pattern and a white belly as in photo 1. Photo 2 shows a bird moving into breeding plumage as the birds move back north showing cinnamon-rufous colouring staring to appear.

For photos of the nominate sub-species see my European page.