Upland Sandpiper

The Upland Sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda is a large shorebird.

Adults have long yellow legs and a long neck. The head and neck are light with brown streaks. The back and upper wings are a darker mottled brown and the belly is white.

Their breeding habitat is open grasslands and fields across central North America and Alaska. Breeding season is from early to late summer; nests are located on the ground in dense grass.

They are long distance migrants and winter in South America. They are very rare vagrants to Europe, notably the Scilly Isles, where they can be extremely tame.

These birds forage in fields, picking up food by sight. They mainly eat insects and some vegetation.

They are frequently sighted on fence posts or even telephone poles.

Upland Sandpipers can be identified by their very distinctive call which sounds like a series of descending whistles.