Sandpipers come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, ranging from tiny birds that weigh only 20 grams to larger species that can reach up to 350 grams. Despite this variation, most sandpipers share some common physical features like long legs, long bills, and compact bodies that help them probe for invertebrates in sand and mud. Their sizes and proportions are important adaptations for their habitat and lifestyle.
Smallest Sandpipers
The very smallest sandpipers include the least sandpiper, the long-toed stint, and Temminck’s stint. These tiny shorebirds weigh between 20-30 grams on average and have short legs and bills. Their small size allows them to nimbly dart around on wet mudflats and floating vegetation while hunting for tiny prey like midges, fly larvae, and copepods.
The least sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) is the smallest species in North America at around 18-28 grams and 11-15 cm long. The slightly larger long-toed stint (Calidris subminuta) weighs 20-40 grams, while Temminck’s stint (Calidris temminckii) is very similar in size at 25-35 grams.
Small Sandpipers
Many sandpipers are only slightly larger than the smallest species. These include Western sandpipers, semipalmated sandpipers, Baird’s sandpipers, and sanderlings. They typically range from 25-50 grams and 15-20 cm in length. Their petite size allows them to easily maneuver around rocky intertidal zones and muddy shorelines during migration and wintering.
The semipalmated sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) weighs 26-42 grams and grows up to 18 cm long. The Western sandpiper (Calidris mauri) is very similar at 20-50 grams and 15 cm in length. Sanderlings (Calidris alba) are at the larger end of this small size range at around 40-100 grams and 18-20 cm long. Lastly, Baird’s sandpiper (Calidris bairdii) weighs 32-63 grams and grows up to around 20 cm.
Medium Sandpipers
There are many mid-sized sandpipers with lean, slender bodies and longer legs adapted for swiftly probing in water and probing deeply in mud and sand. Common examples include dunlin, white-rumped sandpiper, pectoral sandpiper, and stilt sandpiper. Their sizes range from around 40-110 grams and lengths of 18-25 cm.
The dunlin (Calidris alpina) weighs between 40-90 grams and grows 16-21 cm in length. The white-rumped sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis) is slightly smaller at 40-55 grams and 14-17 cm long. Pectoral sandpipers (Calidris melanotos) are larger at 60-100 grams and 20-25 cm long. Stilt sandpipers (Calidris himantopus) are also on the bigger side at 55-65 grams and 18-20 cm in length.
Large Sandpipers
The largest sandpipers are often territorial, aggressively defending feeding areas during the breeding season. Examples are the surfbird, ruff, sharp-tailed sandpiper, and buff-breasted sandpiper. They range from around 90 grams to over 350 grams and 19 cm to 28 cm long.
The surfbird (Aphriza virgata) is around 90-170 grams and 21-25 cm long. The buff-breasted sandpiper (Calidris subruficollis) is slightly larger at 100-122 grams and 20-22 cm in length. The sharp-tailed sandpiper (Calidris acuminata) can reach 130-190 grams and 19-22 cm long. Lastly, the ruff (Calidris pugnax) is the giant of sandpipers, weighing 240-350 grams and reaching 23-28 cm long.
Conclusion
In summary, sandpipers exhibit incredible diversity in size. The very smallest species weigh only 20 grams and have short bills to pluck tiny invertebrates. Medium sandpipers weigh up to around 100 grams and have classic sandpiper proportions with long legs and bills for probing deeply. The largest sandpipers weigh over 200 grams and defend feeding territories aggressively. But overall, their compact, slender, and agile bodies allow them to nimbly dart around wetlands and shorelines hunting for prey.
Size Comparison Table
Species | Weight Range (g) | Length Range (cm) |
---|---|---|
Least Sandpiper | 18-28 | 11-15 |
Long-toed Stint | 20-40 | 11-15 |
Temminck’s Stint | 25-35 | 11-15 |
Semipalmated Sandpiper | 26-42 | 15-18 |
Western Sandpiper | 20-50 | 15 |
Sanderling | 40-100 | 18-20 |
Baird’s Sandpiper | 32-63 | 16-20 |
Dunlin | 40-90 | 16-21 |
White-rumped Sandpiper | 40-55 | 14-17 |
Pectoral Sandpiper | 60-100 | 20-25 |
Stilt Sandpiper | 55-65 | 18-20 |
Surfbird | 90-170 | 21-25 |
Buff-breasted Sandpiper | 100-122 | 20-22 |
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper | 130-190 | 19-22 |
Ruff | 240-350 | 23-28 |