Illustration of turnstone
turnstone
noun
turn·stone ˈtərn-ˌstōn 
: either of two shorebirds (genus Arenaria) of the sandpiper family:
a
: a bird (A. interpres) of worldwide distribution that has black and chestnut upperparts and a black breast
b
: a North American bird (A. melanocephala) with black upperparts and breast
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The ruddy turnstone and purple sandpiper seem to like each other's company. 
Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2022 One, with a distinct black bib and white belly and slightly upturned bill, was a ruddy turnstone. Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2022 In Hampshire County, notable sightings at the Oxbow Marina included a black-bellied plover, a ruddy turnstone, a whimbrel, and a laughing gull. BostonGlobe.com, 28 Aug. 2021 Allen’s Pond Sanctuary in Westport: There were three ruddy turnstones, a stilt sandpiper, three white-rumped sandpipers, two little blue herons, and 14 glossy ibises. BostonGlobe.com, 11 Aug. 2019 At Gooseberry Neck, there were 84 black scoters, three ruddy turnstones, three roseate terns, a great shearwater, a Northern gannet, two cliff swallows, and two orchard orioles. BostonGlobe.com, 30 June 2019 In this May 22, 2018 photo, ruddy turnstones, larger birds, and semipalmated sandpipers walk near the shoreline at Kimbles Beach, Middle Township NJ. Washington Post, 28 June 2018 That day, six species of shorebird were present; ruddy turnstone, semipalmated plover, buff-breasted sandpiper, sanderling and white-rumped sandpiper were all tallied. Taylor Piephoff, charlotteobserver, 22 Sep. 2017 See More
Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2022 One, with a distinct black bib and white belly and slightly upturned bill, was a ruddy turnstone. Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2022 In Hampshire County, notable sightings at the Oxbow Marina included a black-bellied plover, a ruddy turnstone, a whimbrel, and a laughing gull. BostonGlobe.com, 28 Aug. 2021 Allen’s Pond Sanctuary in Westport: There were three ruddy turnstones, a stilt sandpiper, three white-rumped sandpipers, two little blue herons, and 14 glossy ibises. BostonGlobe.com, 11 Aug. 2019 At Gooseberry Neck, there were 84 black scoters, three ruddy turnstones, three roseate terns, a great shearwater, a Northern gannet, two cliff swallows, and two orchard orioles. BostonGlobe.com, 30 June 2019 In this May 22, 2018 photo, ruddy turnstones, larger birds, and semipalmated sandpipers walk near the shoreline at Kimbles Beach, Middle Township NJ. Washington Post, 28 June 2018 That day, six species of shorebird were present; ruddy turnstone, semipalmated plover, buff-breasted sandpiper, sanderling and white-rumped sandpiper were all tallied. Taylor Piephoff, charlotteobserver, 22 Sep. 2017 See More Word History
Etymology
from a habit of turning over stones to find food
First Known Use
circa 1674, in the meaning defined above