Illustration of turnstone
turnstone
noun
turn·stone
ˈtərn-ˌstōn 
: either of two shorebirds (genus Arenaria) of the sandpiper family:
a
: a bird (A. interpres) of worldwide distribution that has black and chestnut upperparts and a black breast
b
: a North American bird (A. melanocephala) with black upperparts and breast
Examples of turnstone in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Wandering tattlers, the ruddy turnstone and a variety of other summer migrants will be found on our local beaches.
—
Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 June 2025
The ruddy turnstone and purple sandpiper seem to like each other's company.
—Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2022
One, with a distinct black bib and white belly and slightly upturned bill, was a ruddy turnstone.
—Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2022
In Hampshire County, notable sightings at the Oxbow Marina included a black-bellied plover, a ruddy turnstone, a whimbrel, and a laughing gull.
—BostonGlobe.com, 28 Aug. 2021
Allen’s Pond Sanctuary in Westport: There were three ruddy turnstones, a stilt sandpiper, three white-rumped sandpipers, two little blue herons, and 14 glossy ibises.
—BostonGlobe.com, 11 Aug. 2019
At Gooseberry Neck, there were 84 black scoters, three ruddy turnstones, three roseate terns, a great shearwater, a Northern gannet, two cliff swallows, and two orchard orioles.
—BostonGlobe.com, 30 June 2019
In this May 22, 2018 photo, ruddy turnstones, larger birds, and semipalmated sandpipers walk near the shoreline at Kimbles Beach, Middle Township NJ.
—Washington Post, 28 June 2018
That day, six species of shorebird were present; ruddy turnstone, semipalmated plover, buff-breasted sandpiper, sanderling and white-rumped sandpiper were all tallied.
—Taylor Piephoff, charlotteobserver, 22 Sep. 2017
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Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 June 2025
The ruddy turnstone and purple sandpiper seem to like each other's company.
—Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2022
One, with a distinct black bib and white belly and slightly upturned bill, was a ruddy turnstone.
—Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2022
In Hampshire County, notable sightings at the Oxbow Marina included a black-bellied plover, a ruddy turnstone, a whimbrel, and a laughing gull.
—BostonGlobe.com, 28 Aug. 2021
Allen’s Pond Sanctuary in Westport: There were three ruddy turnstones, a stilt sandpiper, three white-rumped sandpipers, two little blue herons, and 14 glossy ibises.
—BostonGlobe.com, 11 Aug. 2019
At Gooseberry Neck, there were 84 black scoters, three ruddy turnstones, three roseate terns, a great shearwater, a Northern gannet, two cliff swallows, and two orchard orioles.
—BostonGlobe.com, 30 June 2019
In this May 22, 2018 photo, ruddy turnstones, larger birds, and semipalmated sandpipers walk near the shoreline at Kimbles Beach, Middle Township NJ.
—Washington Post, 28 June 2018
That day, six species of shorebird were present; ruddy turnstone, semipalmated plover, buff-breasted sandpiper, sanderling and white-rumped sandpiper were all tallied.
—Taylor Piephoff, charlotteobserver, 22 Sep. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Turnstone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turnstone. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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