Editing Sandpiper (section)

==Description==
[[File:Least Sandpiper Don Edwards WR 1.jpg|thumb|The [[least sandpiper]] is the smallest species of sandpiper]]
The sandpipers exhibit considerable range in size and appearance, the wide range of body forms reflecting a wide range of ecological niches. Sandpipers range in size from the [[least sandpiper]], at as little as {{convert|18|g|lb|abbr=off}} and {{convert|11|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length, to the [[Far Eastern curlew]], at up to {{convert|66|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length, and the [[Eurasian curlew]], at up to {{convert|1.3|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. Within species there is considerable variation in patterns of [[sexual dimorphism]]. Males are larger than females in [[Ruff (bird)|ruff]]s and several sandpipers, but are smaller than females in the [[Calidrid#Genera and species|knots]], [[curlew]]s, [[phalarope]]s and [[godwit]]s. The sexes are similarly sized in the [[snipe]]s, [[woodcock]] and tringine sandpipers. Compared to the other large family of wading birds, the [[plover]]s ([[Charadriidae]]), they tend to have smaller eyes, more slender heads, and longer thinner bills. Some are quite long-legged, and most species have three forward pointing toes with a smaller hind toe (the exception is the [[sanderling]], which lacks a hind toe).<ref name = "HBW"/>

Sandpipers are more geared towards tactile foraging methods than the plovers, which favour more visual foraging methods, and this is reflected in the high density of tactile receptors in the tips of their [[beak|bills]]. These receptors are housed in a slight horny swelling at the tip of the bill (except for the [[surfbird]] and the two [[turnstone]]s). Bill shape is highly variable within the family, reflecting differences in feeding ecology. Bill length relative to head length varies from three times the length of the head in the [[long-billed curlew]] to just under half the head length in the [[Tuamotu sandpiper]]. Bills may be straight, slightly upcurled or strongly downcurved.<ref name = "HBW">{{cite book | last1=Piersma | first1=Theunis | editor-first = Josep | editor-last = del Hoyo | editor2-first = Andrew | editor2-last = Elliott | editor3-last = Sargatal | editor3-first = Jordi | chapter= Family Scolopacidae (Snipes, Sandpipers and Phalaropes) | title = Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 3, Hoatzin to Auks | year = 1996 | pages=444–487 | place = Barcelona | publisher = Lynx Edicions | isbn =978-84-87334-20-7 | chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/handbookofbirdso0003unse/page/444/mode/1up | chapter-url-access=registration }}</ref> Like all birds, the bills of sandpipers are capable of [[cranial kinesis]], literally being able to move the bones of the skull (other than the obvious movement of the lower jaw) and specifically bending the upper jaw without opening the entire jaw, an act known as [[Cranial kinesis#Rhynchokinesis|rhynchokinesis]]. It has been hypothesized this helps when probing by allowing the bill to be partly opened with less force and improving manipulation of prey items in the substrate. Rhynchokinesis is also used by sandpipers feeding on prey in water to catch and manipulate prey.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Estrella|first=Sora|author2=Masero, José A. |title=The use of distal rhynchokinesis by birds feeding in water|journal=Journal of Experimental Biology|year=2007|volume=210|pages=3757–3762|doi=10.1242/jeb.007690|issue=21|pmid=17951416|doi-access=free}}</ref>