The Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) has a circumpolar distribution, found across Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of North America, Europe, and Asia. During breeding season, it's primarily located in tundra regions from Alaska, northern Canada, Greenland, and parts of Scandinavia to Siberia. In the non-breeding season, it migrates to coastal areas almost worldwide, including Africa, South America, Southern Asia, and Australia.

The typical habitat of Arenaria interpres varies according to the season. During the breeding season, it inhabits Arctic tundra where conditions are cold, and the landscape is characterized by dwarf shrubs and lichen. In non-breeding seasons, it migrates to coastal regions such as rocky shores, sandy beaches, and mudflats in warmer climates, where it finds food along the shoreline.

The Ruddy Turnstone's ecological niche involves its role as a shorebird adapted to foraging for invertebrates. With a strong, slightly upturned bill, it flips over stones and debris to find prey like insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. This behavior allows it to exploit a specific ecological niche within its habitat and sets it apart from other shorebirds that may rely on probing in mud or sand.