Scientific name: Arenaria interpres (Linnaeus, 1758)
Bird group: Waders
Field characters. 24 cm. Rather stout shorebird with distinctive mottled upperparts, short orange legs, broad dark breast band and short, pointed black bill. Head and neck white with black streaks on crown; black band over forehead and eyes merges with breast band; underparts white. Highly distinctive flight pattern with white triangular wing-panel, white wing-bar across secondaries, white rump and white band across black tail. Sexes similar, but female has more extensive streaking on crown and flecked breast band. In winter, both sexes show dusky brown head, white throat and underparts, blackish brown mottled upperparts and breast band. Juvenile resembles adult winter, but browner, with brownish legs. Turns small stones and matted vegetation when feeding.
Voice. Note is a twittering, metallic "kitititit"; alarm call is a long rolling chatter.
Distribution. Locally a fairly common breeding bird and winter visitor; virtually restricted to coasts in all times of year.
Habitat. Breeds along the coast of almost the entire Arctic, with a preference for exposed rocky coasts and coastal islets. Outside breeding season, prefers rocky or seaweed-covered shores; also on mudflats, and frequently on pastures during high tide.
Food. Mainly crustaceans, molluscs and insects, which it obtains by overturning objects (hence its name); scavenges on carcasses washed ashore.