Black Turnstone (Arenaria melanocephala), Near Cocopah RV Resort, Yuma County

This Black Turnstone was found by Henry Detwiler on 13 May 2020 and photographed by Henry Detwiler and by Gary Rosenberg on the same date.

Second record for Arizona (for details on the 1st see here). One other record from the lower Colorado River Valley, California side of Lake Havasu on 21 May 1948. Extremly rare in the interior west except at the Salton Sea where a rare spring migrant.

Stocky shorebird with a short bill. Head is black with partial white supercilium and loral area. Most similar to a Ruddy Turnstone but has a black throat and upperparts, and bare parts. The worn primaries and mix of new and worn tertials indicate this is likely a second year bird.

13 May 2020, photo by Henry Detwiler

13 May 2020, photo by Gary Rosenberg

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