Geography/Habitat:

The Upland Sandpiper, (Bartramia longicauda), was formerly known as Bartrams Sandpiper named after William Bartram an American naturalist, with longicauda meaning long tailed. It is the single member of the genus Bartramia in the large sandpiper family Scolopacidae. Originally described by German Naturalist in 1812 it has undergone many name changes and order placement but now seems settled in its own genus.

Upland Sandpipers breed NE of Alaska and then through Central and Eastern Canada down through the Northern US as far south as Northern Oklahoma. They Winter in Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil. They are early migrants passing through Southern and Eastern US in March and early April and returning in late July and August.

Preferred habitat is open grasslands and prairies with tall grass and are often found around airports.  They nest on the ground in tall grass, laying four speckled brownish eggs. They are incubated by both parents for 21 to 27 days with the young fledging in a further 30 days. Note the parents are very protective and will feign injury to draw predators away.

Typically insectivorous, Upland Sandpipers will also eat worms etc. and will occasionally eat grass seed.

Identification

Upland sandpipers are large at 12 inches with a very slim long neck and small head and short stubby yellow bill with a black tip. Legs are yellow with a whitish face and underparts showing some brown streaking. Upperparts are darker brown with extensive black streaking. In flight, wings are dark with lighter inner patches with a light, streaked tail. Flight is strong and direct.

The Upland’s call is a repeated “paulip paulip” with its song being a rising trill with a terminal slurred down-note.

Interesting Facts:



• In Louisiana the Upland Sandpiper is known as pappabotte.
• Once numerous, the Upland Sandpiper has undergone massive decline but seems to have stabilized at around 350 thousand birds.
• A group of sandpipers is known as a blind, contradiction, fling, hill or time-step.