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Sandpipers, Snipes

Sandpipers are a diverse group of wading birds belonging to the family Scolopacidae, which also includes curlews and snipe. They exhibit a range of body sizes and bill shapes adapted to various ecological niches, typically consuming small invertebrates in coastal habitats. With body lengths ranging from 12 to 66 cm, they have sensitive, slender bills that vary in length, helping them locate prey beneath the mud or soil. Sandpipers are generally drab in color, with brown, grey, or streaked patterns, although some may become more colorful during breeding. These birds are mostly found across the Northern Hemisphere and are known for their open-area nesting habits and simple ground scrapes as nests where they lay three to four eggs. The young are self-sufficient shortly after hatching. The family was first scientifically described in 1815, encompasses around 98 species, and includes various genera such as Bartramia, Numenius, and Calidris. Most sandpipers evolved during the Oligocene to Miocene epochs, with a scarce fossil record from earlier times. Their foraging behavior is tactile, with some species exhibiting unique feeding styles such as probing mud or chasing aquatic prey. During breeding, strategies vary from monogamous pairs to more complex arrangements that may include polyandry and lek mating systems. Sandpipers' non-breeding distributions are widespread, including regions outside of the extreme deserts and Antarctica.

Regions

A photo of a Baird's Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii)

Baird's Sandpiper

Calidris bairdii
A photo of a Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) , male

Bar-tailed Godwit

Limosa lapponica
A photo of a Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)

Black-tailed Godwit

Limosa limosa
A photo of a Broad-billed Sandpiper (Calidris falcinellus)

Broad-billed Sandpiper

Calidris falcinellus
A photo of a Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Calidris subruficollis)

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Calidris subruficollis
A photo of a Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos
A photo of a Curlew (Numenius arquata) , male

Curlew

Numenius arquata
A photo of a Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)

Curlew Sandpiper

Calidris ferruginea
A photo of a Dunlin (Calidris alpina)

Dunlin

Calidris alpina
A photo of a Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)

Greater Yellowlegs

Tringa melanoleuca
A photo of a Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris)

Great Knot

Calidris tenuirostris
A photo of a Great Snipe (Gallinago media)

Great Snipe

Gallinago media
A photo of a Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus)

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropus
A photo of a Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)

Greenshank

Tringa nebularia
A photo of a Grey Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius)

Grey Phalarope

Phalaropus fulicarius
A photo of a Jack Snipe (Lymnocryptes minimus)

Jack Snipe

Lymnocryptes minimus
A photo of a Knot (Calidris canutus)

Knot

Calidris canutus
A photo of a Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)

Lesser Yellowlegs

Tringa flavipes
A photo of a Little Stint (Calidris minuta)

Little Stint

Calidris minuta
A photo of a Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus)

Long-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus scolopaceus
A photo of a Long-toed Stint (Calidris subminuta)

Long-toed Stint

Calidris subminuta
A photo of a Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis)

Marsh Sandpiper

Tringa stagnatilis
A photo of a Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)

Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris melanotos
A photo of a Pin-tailed Snipe (Gallinago stenura)

Pin-tailed Snipe

Gallinago stenura
A photo of a Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritima)

Purple Sandpiper

Calidris maritima
A photo of a Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus)

Red-necked Phalarope

Phalaropus lobatus
A photo of a Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis)

Red-necked Stint

Calidris ruficollis
A photo of a Redshank (Tringa totanus)

Redshank

Tringa totanus
A photo of a Ruff (Calidris pugnax) , male

Ruff

Calidris pugnax
A photo of a Sanderling (Calidris alba)

Sanderling

Calidris alba
A photo of a Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla)

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Calidris pusilla
A photo of a Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus)

Short-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus griseus

Slender-billed Curlew

Numenius tenuirostris
A photo of a Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)

Snipe

Gallinago gallinago
A photo of a Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus)

Spotted Redshank

Tringa erythropus
A photo of a Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)

Spotted Sandpiper

Actitis macularius
A photo of a Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus)

Stilt Sandpiper

Calidris himantopus
A photo of a Temminck's Stint (Calidris temminckii)

Temminck's Stint

Calidris temminckii
A photo of a Terek Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus)

Terek Sandpiper

Xenus cinereus
A photo of a Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)

Turnstone

Arenaria interpres
A photo of a Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda)

Upland Sandpiper

Bartramia longicauda
A photo of a Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)

Whimbrel

Numenius phaeopus
A photo of a White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis)

White-rumped Sandpiper

Calidris fuscicollis
A photo of a Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor)

Wilson's Phalarope

Phalaropus tricolor
A photo of a Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola)

Woodcock

Scolopax rusticola
A photo of a Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)

Wood Sandpiper

Tringa glareola
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