A small, compact shorebird of coastal jetties and mudflats. Alternate Adult has reddish-orange upperparts, black bar on scapulars, white underparts, pied black and white head pattern with broad black stripe looping from side of the neck across the breast to the upper flanks. Bill is short and fairly thick, with straight culmen and upcurved lower mandible, making it look slightly upturned. Basic Adult has a near black breast, washed-out grayish-brown version of the alternate head pattern, mottled brown and black upperparts, and clean white lower breast, belly and undertail. Fall juvenile has scalloped wings with pale-edged feathers, pale head with contrasting pattern, and dark breast patches. In all plumages, note bright orange legs. In flight, shows conspicuous black-and-white, flashy wing and tail patterns.

Length: 24 (cm) Wingspan: 53 (cm)

Voice:

Low, grating calls, also various rattles and single notes.

Habitat:

Jetties, coastal rock formations, mudflats, beaches. Breeds on tundra.

Behavior:

Walks among rocks or on mudflats. Sometimes flocks with Black Turnstones, Surfbirds, and other shorebirds. Nest, in arctic tundra, is a lined ground depression.

Feeding:

Walks slowly along rocky or muddy areas; eats a variety of insects and other invertebrates, crustaceans, worms, plant material, eggs of other birds, carrion, and garbage.