Australia
SpeciesField NotesLog inDownload

Field notes

Stay in the loop

Get updates, new features, and Australian birding news.

By subscribing, I agree to receive BirdUp Australia updates, new features, and Australian birding news.

Australia
Download for iOSDownload for AndroidSpeciesField NotesRSSNewsletterBrandPrivacyTerms

BirdUp Australia Pty Ltd © 2026. Made in Australia for Australian birders.

  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Scolopacidae
  4. ›
  5. Arenaria
  6. ›
  7. Ruddy Turnstone
Ruddy Turnstone
Photo · (c) Justine Lee Hirten, some rights reserved (CC BY)

BirdUp · Species

Ruddy Turnstone

Arenaria interpres(Linnaeus, 1758)

Updated 21 March 2026

Also known asMun-gir-a-gir-a

Conservation status: Least ConcernOrigin: Native
Order
CHARADRIIFORMES
Family
Scolopacidae
Genus
Arenaria

At a glance

The Ruddy Turnstone is a medium-sized bird, about 22–24 cm long, listed as Least Concern and native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
22–24 cm
Conservation status
Least Concern
Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Very common
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Ruddy Turnstone look like?

The Ruddy Turnstone is a medium-sized bird, about 22–24 cm long and weighing 65–195 g.

The ruddy turnstone is a small cosmopolitan wading bird, one of two species of turnstone in the genus Arenaria.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
22–24 cm
Weight
65–195 g
Wingspan
50 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Ruddy Turnstone?

The Ruddy Turnstone is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Ruddy Turnstone eat?

The Ruddy Turnstone feeds on intertidal invertebrates, usually foraging in flocks.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

4 photos

The BirdUp app

Log your next Ruddy Turnstone in the field

A pocket field journal for 850+ Australian birds. Offline-first, smart ID, and a lifelist that travels with you.

Get the appRead field notes
Spotted something wrong on this page? Report incorrect info

02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Ruddy Turnstone live in Australia?

The Ruddy Turnstone is native to Australia, recorded across 57 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingNA, PAL : high and low Arctic tundra of coastal Holarctic

Non-breedingTemperate to tropical coasts worldwide

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Passage

8 regions recorded