The Black Turnstone 



Nesting. — Does not breed in California. Nest: A mere depression in sand 

 of seabeach. Eggs: Much as in A. i. morinella. Av. size 40.6 x 27.9 (1.60 x 1.10) 

 (Read). Season: June; one brood. 



General Range. — Breeds in western Alaska from the valley of the lower Yukon 

 at least to Kotzebue Sound. Occurs casually (?) to Point Barrow and Wrangel Island. 

 Winters south to coasts of Lower California. 



Occurrence in California. — Common along the coast, and especially on ex- 

 posed or rocky portions, during migrations. Less common in winter on mainland 

 coasts, but fairly abundant on the Santa Barbara Islands. Non-breeding birds'of 

 casual occurrence or even local abundance in summer. 



Authorities. — Gambel (Strepsilas melanocephala), Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 

 ser. 2, i., 1849, p. 220 (San Pedro; Monterey); Bowles and Howell, Condor, vol. xiv., 

 1912, p. 11 (Santa Barbara; migr. dates); Howell, Pac. Coast Avifauna, no. 12, 1917, p. 50. 



SAVE DURING the nesting season, the Black Turnstone is as 

 characteristic of the Santa Barbara Islands and of the barnacle-covered 

 reefs off our Pacific shores as is the Black Oyster-catcher in June. The 

 birds move in little companies, cheered by rattling, piping cries, Kitur, 

 kitur; and they seem to prefer the lowest possible reaches of the rock above 

 the actual wash-line of the waves, where they may be wetted by incessant 

 spray. When hushed into silence and immobility by the approach of a 

 stranger, the birds themselves appear like little else than bunches of sea- 

 weed or knobs of the somber reef; but when reassured as to the stranger's 

 intent, they begin to stir about and chatter. Now and then one of them 

 runs at his fellows with outstretched bill and neck, and a fine scuffle, or 

 flight, ensues. When they take to wing, as they do by a common flock 

 impulse, the transformation in appearance is a delight to the eye. In- 

 stead of a row of dull-colored clods, there appears a constant cyclorama 

 of flashing whites, set off by variegating blacks. 



Taken at Coronado 



SEVEN BLACK TURNSTONES 



Photo by Dickey 

 1343 



