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Turnstone

Arenaria interpres

UnknownVUAULCEULCEU

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Turnstone faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss at critical stopover sites along its Arctic-to-tropical migration routes. Coastal development, sea-level rise, and human disturbance at key feeding areas during migration have reduced available foraging habitat by an estimated 20-50% across major flyways. Climate change is altering the timing of Arctic breeding seasons and shifting prey availability, creating mismatches between peak food resources and breeding cycles.

Threat summary

Habitat

Turnstones breed on rocky Arctic tundra and coastal areas, then migrate along coastlines worldwide, utilizing rocky shores, sandy beaches, mudflats, and jetties for foraging. During migration and winter, they depend heavily on intertidal zones rich in invertebrates, particularly favoring areas with stones and debris they can flip to access hidden prey.

FRESHWATER· majorMARINE· majorTERRESTRIAL· major

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Turnstone classified as Endangered?
Turnstone is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. The Turnstone faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss at critical stopover sites along its Arctic-to-tropical migration routes. Coastal development, sea-level rise, and human disturbance at key feeding areas during migration have reduced available foraging habitat by an estimated 20-50% across major flyways. Climate change is altering the timing of Arctic breeding seasons and shifting prey availability, creating mismatches between peak food resources and breeding cycles.
Where does Turnstone live?
Turnstone occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Turnstone?
The main threats to Turnstone are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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