Ruddy Turnstone Overview
The ruddy turnstone is known as 'akekeke in the Hawaiian language. It is a winter visitor to the Hawaiian Islands, usually arriving around August and leaving for Arctic breeding grounds in April.
In Hawaii, ruddy turnstones can be seen along shorelines, fields and mudflats. They often stay together in small flocks, which makes them easier to notice when they move across open ground or along the water's edge. In late summer, flocks of 250 or more birds may be seen.
Flocks, Food and Calls
Ruddy turnstones often fly together, with the entire flock rising and turning at the same time. This group movement is one of the more interesting things to watch, especially when many birds lift off from a shoreline or mudflat at once.
They feed on crustaceans and insects. They may also use their bill to break open seabird eggs. Their call is a rattling a-ke-ke-ke, which connects closely to the Hawaiian name 'akekeke.
Because ruddy turnstones are seasonal visitors, they are different from many of Hawaii's familiar year-round urban birds. For other shorebirds and coastal birds in the Hawaii bird guide, compare the Pacific golden plover, semipalmated sandpiper, wandering tattler and Hawaiian stilt.
