Arenaria interpres | ruddy turnstone | ʻakekeke
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- Ruddy Turnstone-summer, photo by Sherman Wing
Regular Migrant
Other Names: akekeke
The ʻakekeke, or ruddy turnstone, is a common winter visitor to Hawaiʻi from August to May. During the summer, they live in the arctic. At 9 inches, they are a brown with white bellies with black markings on their heads and chests. They have a small black bill and orange legs. When preparing to fly to the arctic, they are more mottled black and rust-red. They use their bill to turn over stones along the shore, looking for insects and shellfish. Listen for their call, saying their name, “a-ke-ke-ke.”
The map below shows hotspots along our birding trails where you might see this bird. Learn more by visiting our species profile page for ʻakekeke.
Hotspots for ruddy turnstone
- Māhā’ulepū Heritage Trail | Details for Māhā’ulepū Heritage Trail
- Salt Pond Beach Park | Details for Salt Pond Beach Park
- Kawaiʻele State Waterbird Sanctuary | Details for Kawaiʻele State Waterbird Sanctuary
- Nuʻupia Pond | Details for Nuʻupia Pond
- Betty Bliss Memorial Overlook | Details for Betty Bliss Memorial Overlook
- Paikō Lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary | Details for Paikō Lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary
- Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail | Details for Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail
- James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge | Details for James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge
- Waimea Valley | Details for Waimea Valley
- Kaʻena Point Trail | Details for Kaʻena Point Trail
- Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge | Details for Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge
- Kanahā Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary | Details for Kanahā Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary
- SIDE TRIP: Wai‘ānapanpa State Park | Details for SIDE TRIP: Wai‘ānapanpa State Park
- Keāhole Point | Details for Keāhole Point
- Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historic Park | Details for Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historic Park
- Wailoa River State Park | Details for Wailoa River State Park
- Loko Waka Pond | Details for Loko Waka Pond
Māhā’ulepū Heritage Trail
Coastal
Salt Pond Beach Park
Coastal
Kawaiʻele State Waterbird Sanctuary
Wetland
Nuʻupia Pond
Wetland
Betty Bliss Memorial Overlook
Wetland
Paikō Lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary
Wetland
Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail
Coastal
James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge
Wetland
Waimea Valley
WetlandWet forest
Kaʻena Point Trail
Coastal
Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge
Wetland
Kanahā Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary
Wetland
SIDE TRIP: Wai‘ānapanpa State Park
Coastal
Keāhole Point
Coastal
Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historic Park
Wetland
Wailoa River State Park
Wetland
Loko Waka Pond
Wetland
