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Calidris Sandpipers

Calidris

Calidris sandpipers are small, wading birds that love to run along the shore. They have long legs and beaks that help them find tiny food in the sand and water.

Habitat: Coastal areas

Appearance

The Calidris Sandpipers are small to medium shorebirds with compact bodies, typically sporting brownish-grey upperparts and lighter, often streaked, underparts. Their bill shapes and lengths vary, from short and stout to moderately long and slightly downcurved, but they all share an active, bustling appearance near water.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderCharadriiformesFamilyScolopacidaeGenusCalidris
Calidris Sandpipers
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Calidris Sandpipers

Category

Birds

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Baby sandpipers are called "precocial" because they can walk and feed themselves very soon after hatching!

Some species of sandpipers completely change their feather colors for breeding season!

Their tiny, three-toed footprints are often the only clue that these busy birds were there!

They can drink salty ocean water and still stay hydrated thanks to special glands!

Special abilities

Ability

Super Sniffer Beaks

Calidris Sandpipers have highly sensitive bill tips that help them detect tiny prey hidden beneath the sand and mud without seeing it.

Ability

Endurance Flight Masters

Calidris Sandpipers can fly thousands of miles during migration because they have incredible endurance and efficient flight patterns.

Ability

Camouflage Cloak

Calidris Sandpipers have cryptic plumage that helps them blend perfectly with their sandy or muddy surroundings, avoiding predators.

Ability

Rapid-Fire Feeding

Calidris Sandpipers can quickly probe the ground many times per second to catch small invertebrates before they can escape.

Measurements & details

Length
13-25 cm
Wingspan
25-50 cm
Weight
0.02-0.12 kg
Lifespan
5-15 years
Top Speed
60 km/h
Clutch Size
3-4
Incubation
20-23 days
Migration Distance
15000 km

Diet & Feeding

They feast on tiny creatures like worms and crustaceans found in wet sand and mud.

Primary Foods

  • marine worms
  • small crustaceans
  • insect larvae
  • tiny mollusks
  • aquatic insects

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

A swift aerial predator of shorebirds.

eaten by

Herring Gull

Larus argentatus

Gulls can prey on sandpipers, especially juveniles.

hunts

Lugworm

Arenicola marina

A common prey item found in sandy and muddy substrates.

hunts

Mud Shrimp

Corophium volutator

Small crustaceans often found in tidal flats, a key food source.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always watch sandpipers from a distance so you don't scare them away.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is Calidris Sandpipers?

13-25 cm

What is Calidris Sandpipers's wingspan?

25-50 cm

How much does Calidris Sandpipers weigh?

0.02-0.12 kg

How long does Calidris Sandpipers live?

5-15 years

How fast can Calidris Sandpipers move?

60 km/h

What does Calidris Sandpipers eat?

They feast on tiny creatures like worms and crustaceans found in wet sand and mud.

Where is Calidris Sandpipers usually found?

Coastal areas

How does Calidris Sandpipers hunt?

Foraging

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