Waders- Sandpipers and Shanks

Sandpipers are a large family, Scolopacidae, of waders or shorebirds. They include many species called sandpipers, as well as those called by names such as curlew and snipe. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Different lengths of bills enable different species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.

Common Sandpiper. Zimbabwe. September 2009
(Photo Stan Culley)

Marsh Sandpiper. Goa, February 2004
(Photo Stan Culley)

Common Greenshank. Mpenjati Reserve, November 2010
(Photo Stan Culley)

Wood Sandpiper. Sappi Stanger. March 2010
(Photo Stan Culley) (modified)

Terek Sandpiper. Bayhead, November 2007
note up-curved bill
(Photo Stan Culley) (modified)

Curlew Sandpiper. St Lucia, November 2004
note down-curved bill
(Photo Stan Culley)

Common Redshank. Goa, February 2004
(Photo Stan Culley)

Common Whimbrel. Mpenjati Reserve. October 2009
(Photo Stan Culley) (modified)

Eurasian Curlew. England, September 2005
(Photo Stan Culley)