CreatureData

Ruff vs Sanderling

The ruff is heavier: 131.7 g against 51.7 g for the sanderling, about 2.5 times the weight.

Ruff (Calidris pugnax)
Ruff LCLeast Concern
Photo: Wald1siedel · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Sanderling (Calidris alba)
Sanderling LCLeast Concern
Photo: Jacob Spinks from Northamptonshire, England · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

What is the difference between a ruff and a sanderling?

Each point below is worked out from a pair of recorded values.

  • The ruff is heavier: 131.7 g against 51.7 g for the sanderling, about 2.5 times the weight.
  • The sanderling is longer-lived: 18.6 years against 13.9 years for the ruff, about 33% longer.
  • Both belong to the genus Calidris, so they are close relatives.
  • Both are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Side by side

RuffSanderling
Scientific nameCalidris pugnaxCalidris alba
FamilyScolopacidaeScolopacidae
OrderCharadriiformesCharadriiformes
Weight102 g – 180 g51.7 g – 55.6 g
LengthNot recordedNot recorded
Lifespan13.9 years – 13.9 years14.9 years – 18.6 years
Main foodNot recordedNot recorded
Habitatwetlandcoastal
Conservation statusLeast ConcernLeast Concern
Countries recordedNot recordedNot recorded

A scale drawing needs a recorded length for both animals; only weights are on record for this pair.

Full record: RuffFull record: SanderlingCompare other animals