Ruddy Turnstone

The Ruddy Turnstone is a distinctive, stocky shorebird known for its orange legs, short bill, and tendency to flip stones and small debris for food. Despite its small size it is fairly unmistakable. It shows striking black, white, and reddish-brown patterns in breeding plumage when it first arrived to our shores and mudflats and become duller brown as it looses its breeding colours. In flight, the Ruddy Turnstone shows striking black and white patterns: a white stripe down the back, white rump, dark tail with a black stripe, and bold white bars on the wings, contrasting with its darker upperparts and orange legs, creating a “calico” look.

It is common to Teluk Air Tawar – Kuala Muda mudflats but in small numbers, rarely more than 10 if in small flocks. It can be found perching on more harden muddy areas and on rocky outcrops and on those concrete mussels post of the coast.

https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/ruddy-turnstone-arenaria-interpres

At Teluk Air Tawar – Kuala Muda: a migrant, usually in small numbers. It was recorded during the MNS Penang survey of October 2024 to March 2026. Look for it from August to April, in the largest numbers from October to February. See When to see shorebirds at Teluk Air Tawar – Kuala Muda.