turnstone

turn·stone

T0425200 (tûrn′stōn′)n. Either of two shorebirds of the genus Arenaria, especially the ruddy turnstone.

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[So called because the birds turn stones over to expose small invertebrates on which they feed.]

turnstone

(ˈtɜːnˌstəʊn) n (Animals) either of two shore birds of the genus Arenaria, esp A. interpres (ruddy turnstone). They are related and similar to plovers and sandpipers[C17: so called because it turns over stones in search of food]

turn•stone

(ˈtɜrnˌstoʊn)

n. any of several shorebirds of the genus Arenaria, of the sandpiper family, having a slender, upturned bill used for turning over pebbles in search of food. [1665–75]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

turnstone - migratory shorebirds of the plover family that turn over stones in searching for foodplover - any of numerous chiefly shorebirds of relatively compact build having straight bills and large pointed wings; closely related to the sandpipersArenaria, genus Arenaria - turnstonesArenaria interpres, ruddy turnstone - common Arctic turnstone that winters in South America and AustraliaArenaria-Melanocephala, black turnstone - common turnstone of the Pacific coast of North America