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Grassland Bird Species
Upland Sandpiper  Known for their haunting "wolf-whistling" song heard while they circle high above their breeding territories, upland sandpipers are among the rarest and most appealing grassland birds in the Northeast. They were formerly common throughout the region, seen foraging in short grasses or heard giving their rattling call while camouflaged in the long grasses. Upland sandpipers traditionally nested in sandplain grasslands, blueberry barrens, pastures, and old hayfields but are no longer able to find suitable habitat in most areas. Upland sandpipers are rare and declining in the region because they require large contiguous tracts of grasslands.
Life History
Upland sandpipers require a variety of vegetation types for breeding. Areas with short grass are used for feeding, whereas areas with taller grasses are required for nesting. They typically avoid areas with excessively tall shrubs, dense ground litter, and uniform grasses and legumes. Upland sandpiper nests are built in sparse vegetation or crop stubble in grasses (4 to 12 inches tall) that provide cover. The breeding season lasts until early to mid-July; one brood is typically raised. By late July, upland sandpipers are gathering into flocks before departing for their long flight to wintering grounds in South America.
Reason for Decline
- Habitat fragmentation. Farmlands and sandplain grass-lands have been fragmented by residential and commercial developments and reforestation. Contiguous open areas, larger than 200 acres, are scarce in the Northeast.
- Effects of agriculture on breeding success. Fields with heavy grazing, early summer mowing, extensive row crops, or uniform grass cover negatively affect breeding success.
Map of distribution and abundance  Back to Grassland Bird Species
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