Ruddy Turnstone

The ruddy turnstone is a fairly small, stocky wader, 22–24 centimetres long with a wingspan of 50–57 centimetres and a weight of 85–150 grams. The dark, wedge-shaped bill is 2–2.5 centimetres long and slightly upturned, and the fairly short legs are bright orange. In all seasons the plumage is dominated by a harlequin-like pattern of brown, black and white. Breeding birds have reddish-brown upperparts with black markings, a mainly white head with black streaks on the crown and a black pattern on the face, and a mainly black breast with a white patch on the sides. (Wikipedia, general species account)

A small, cosmopolitan wading bird, it is now classified in the sandpiper family but was formerly sometimes placed with the plovers. It is highly migratory, breeding in northern parts of Eurasia and North America and flying south to winter on coastlines almost worldwide. It is the only species of turnstone in much of its range and is often known simply as turnstone. (Wikipedia, general species account)