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How large is the smallest sandpiper compared with the largest curlew?
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Charadriiform
Crab plover (Dromas ardeola)
Within the order Charadriiformes, there is a significant variation in size among the shorebirds of the family Scolopacidae.1
The least sandpiper (C. minutilla) is the smallest sandpiper, measuring less than 15 cm (6 inches) in length and weighing approximately 20 grams (0.7 ounce). In contrast, the largest curlews (genus Numenius), such as the eastern curlew (N. madagascariensis) or the common curlew (N. arquata), reach lengths of about 60 cm (24 inches) and can weigh up to 640 grams (1.5 pounds).213
Consequently, the largest curlews are roughly four times the length and over 30 times the weight of the smallest sandpiper.231