Bartramia longicauda
The Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) is a distinctive medium-sized shorebird, unique as the sole member of its genus, known for its upright posture and preference for grasslands rather than wetlands. Measuring 28-32 cm (11-13 in) in length with a wingspan of 50-58 cm (20-23 in) and weighing 120-200 g (4.2-7.1 oz), its plumage is primarily buff and brown, with dark streaks on the breast and flanks, providing excellent camouflage in its prairie habitat. Key identification marks include i...
Found primarily in tallgrass and shortgrass prairies, hayfields, and pastures, preferring open grasslands with moderate vegetation height for nesting and foraging. Typically observed in low to mid-elevation agricultural landscapes and native prairies.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, caterpillars, and other arthropods. Occasionally consumes spiders, snails, earthworms, and small amounts of seeds or berries, primarily foraging by walking and pecking.
Upland Sandpipers are primarily diurnal, with some crepuscular activity, typically roosting inconspicuously in dense vegetation. They forage by walking slowly through grass, visually locating and pecking at insects, often standing tall to survey their surroundings. Males establish and defend terr...
The Upland Sandpiper breeds across a broad swath of central North America, extending from eastern Washington and southern British Columbia eastward through the Great Plains of the United States and Canada, reaching as far as Maine and the mid-Atlantic states. Its primary breeding stronghold lies ...
Near Threatened
- The Upland Sandpiper is the only species in its genus, Bartramia, making it a unique branch on the avian family tree. - Its iconic, melodic "wolf whistle" call is one of the most distinctive sounds of North American prairies, often described as ethereal and evocative. - Historically known as "B...