# Sandpipers And Allies (*scolopacidae*) Sandpipers are small, lively birds that love to run along the beach! They have long legs and beaks to help them find food in the sand and water. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Habitat:** Sandpipers live in coastal areas, marshes, and wetlands. - **Also known as:** Beach Birds, Shorebirds, Waders ![Sandpipers And Allies](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Waldschnepfe_%28scolopax_rusticola%29_-_Spiekeroog%252C_Nationalpark_Nieders%C3%A4chsisches_Wattenmeer.jpg&width=800) Photo: Stephan Sprinz, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Waldschnepfe_%28scolopax_rusticola%29_-_Spiekeroog%252C_Nationalpark_Nieders%C3%A4chsisches_Wattenmeer.jpg) ## Appearance The Sandpipers And Allies have slender bodies with long legs and a distinctive, often specialized bill for probing. Their plumage is typically muted in shades of brown, gray, and white, sometimes streaked, allowing them to blend seamlessly with sandy or muddy shorelines. Many species display subtle differences in bill length and curvature. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Charadriiformes - **Family:** Scolopacidae ## Interesting facts - A tiny sandpiper can fly nonstop for days across vast open oceans! - Many species have special feet that help them run on soft mud without sinking! - Some sandpipers can 'tune' their bill's flexibility to grab different prey! - Their unique calls help them communicate over the loud sounds of crashing waves! ## Special abilities - **Tactile Treasure Hunter:** Sandpipers have highly sensitive bill tips that help them feel for hidden prey in mud and sand, even without seeing it. - **Epic Ocean Navigator:** Sandpipers can undertake incredible migrations, flying thousands of miles across continents and oceans to find food. - **Surf Skater:** Sandpipers can run incredibly fast along the water's edge, expertly dodging incoming waves while foraging for food. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 10-62 cm - **Wingspan:** 20-100 cm - **Weight:** 0.015-1.1 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-15 years - **Speed:** 70 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-5 - **Incubation:** 18-30 days - **Migration Distance:** 20000 km ## Diet & Feeding These shorebirds primarily feast on small invertebrates found buried in wet soil and shallow water. - **Primary Foods:** worms, crustaceans, insects, small mollusks - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Peregrine Falcon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/peregrine-falcon) (*Falco peregrinus*) — Hunts migrating and resident sandpipers. - **Eaten by:** [Herring Gull](https://www.snappit.app/explore/herring-gull) (*Larus argentatus*) — Preys on eggs and chicks in nesting areas. - **Eats:** Lugworm (*Arenicola marina*) — Sandpipers probe sandy shores to find and consume. - **Eats:** Green Crab (*Carcinus maenas*) — Smaller crabs are a common prey for larger sandpiper species. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Sandpipers And Allies? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Sandpipers And Allies? 10-62 cm ### What is Sandpipers And Allies's wingspan? 20-100 cm ### How much does Sandpipers And Allies weigh? 0.015-1.1 kg ### How long does Sandpipers And Allies live? 3-15 years ### How fast can Sandpipers And Allies move? 70 km/h ### What does Sandpipers And Allies eat? These shorebirds primarily feast on small invertebrates found buried in wet soil and shallow water. ### Where is Sandpipers And Allies usually found? Sandpipers live in coastal areas, marshes, and wetlands. ## Where to spot - [Lower Madawaska River Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lower-madawaska-river-provincial-park) — Ontario, CA · State Park ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Sandpipers And Allies: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sandpipers-and-allies)