If you want to see a truly black turnstone, you’ll have to go to the marshy coast of Alaska in the summertime where this bird nests. Along the Oregon coast the top feathers are a very dark brown.
This turnstone prefers to feed along the basalt outcrops at low tide or on basalt outcrops and ledges with tons of water smashing into foam only feet or inches away. While humans on the same rocks get caught in “sneaker waves” and die every year, in many seasons of watching bird and waves I’ve never seen one get caught.
Turnstones foraging in their favorite location–the edge of the surf on a rocky tide flat.
Although they seem wholly engrossed in hunting small organisms in the outwash of the waves, sight or sound or both set them in flight only fraction of seconds ahead of death.
Foraging on the dark basalt they are invisible to most passers by, especially eagles and other predators flying overhead. In flight their distinctive white wing and tail feathers allow them to fly together to safety. Photographing them when the sun has not reached their hunting grounds does not make for the best pictures, but here they are.
On foot they are almost entirely dark brown, their white undersides almost invisible. In flight their white wing and back feathers make it easy for them to follow each other.
These turnstones are foraging for the live flies and a new other invertebrates on a raft of bull kelp brought in by a strong surf.
A turnstone preens itself afer foraging.
A flock of turnstones moving up the coast
Some writers suggest that the white and dark of the turnstones in flight helps them blend with the contrasts of surf foam and water, but it certainly makes them visible against dark rock.
The short strong foot of the turnstone gives it a firm grip even as waves come in or strong winds blow.
