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
Thanks to a critical refueling stop in Delaware Bay, the ruddy turnstone shorebird manages to migrate thousands of miles each year to its breeding grounds in the high Arctic.
—
Torben Rick,
The Conversation,
18 June 2026
Summer visitors, on the other hand, can encounter a truly diverse array of species, with potential sightings spanning from the little blue heron to the ruddy turnstone.
—
Jared Ranahan,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
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
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
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Torben Rick,
The Conversation,
18 June 2026
Summer visitors, on the other hand, can encounter a truly diverse array of species, with potential sightings spanning from the little blue heron to the ruddy turnstone.
—
Jared Ranahan,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
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
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
Cite this Entry
“Turnstone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turnstone. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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