Name:Arenaria interpres
Alias:Arenaria interpres,Ruddy Turnstone, Turnstone,Red turncock, brown turncock
Outline:Wader
Family:Charadriformes Sandpiper
length:18-24cm
Weight:82-135g
Life:No textual research information is available
IUCN:LC
The foreign name Ruddy Turnstone, no subspecies.
The turnstone snipe is a traveller and winter migrant in China. Spring migrates in April-May and autumn migrates in September-October. Migrations often integrate large, loosely organized groups. Often alone or in small groups. Large groups are also often assembled during migration. The gait is a little shaky when walking, but runs well, flies strongly and straight, and usually does not soar.
It mainly pecks at crustaceans, mollusks, spiders, earthworms, insects and insect larvae. They also eat some grass seeds and berries. Often foraging alone or in small groups. They forage mainly by turning over seagrass and small pebbles on the ground or in shallow water near the water's edge, pecking at crustaceans and other small invertebrates hidden below. They also eat dead animals.
The breeding period is from June to August. It breeds on the Arctic coast. Nests are found on shoals or islands, on sand and under coastal scrub and rocks, and are usually well sheltered. The nest is filled with grass stems, grass leaves and moss. Four eggs are usually laid per litter, but occasionally as few as three and as many as five. The eggs are pear-shaped and pale gray, taupe, or olive green in color. With brown spots. The size of the eggs ranged from 36-44.5×26-31.3 mm, with an average of 40.5×29.3 mm. The male and female incubate the eggs in turn, but the female bird predominates.
The global population is estimated at an average of 460,000 to 730,000 (Wetlands International, 2015). Total population estimates include: 1-10 million migratory birds and 501,000 overwintering birds in China; On average 1,000-10,000 travellers and 50-50,000 overwintering birds in Taiwan, China; South Korea has an average of 50-10,000 travelling birds; Japan has an average of 1,000-10,000 travellers and 501,000 overwintering birds, and 10,000-100,000 breeding pairs; Russia has an average of 1,000-10,000 travelling birds (2009). The European population is estimated at 35,900-77,100 pairs, equivalent to 71,800-154,000 mature individuals (2015).
The overall population trend is declining, although the trend for some populations is unknown (Wetlands International 2015). In North America, this trend is increasing (based on BBS/CBC data: Butcher and Niven 2007), while in Europe, species size is estimated to have declined by less than 25% in 21 years, 9 years (three generations) (BirdLife International 2015).
Listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN) for 2016 ver 3.1 - Not Threatened (LC).
Listed in China's "National Key Protected Wildlife List" (February 5, 2021) Level 2.
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