The Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) is a large shorebird species that is found across North America. In this article, we will explore the size of the Upland Sandpiper by looking at different measurements of their body and anatomy.
Wingspan
One way to quantify the size of a bird is to look at its wingspan. The wingspan measurement indicates the distance between the tip of one wing to the tip of the other wing when the bird’s wings are spread fully outstretched.
For the Upland Sandpiper, their average wingspan ranges from 18-22 inches (45-55 cm). This makes them a medium to large-sized shorebird species in terms of wingspan. The long and slender wings help give the Upland Sandpiper speed and agility in flight.
Body Length
Another common measurement used to describe a bird’s size is its body length. Body length is a measure of the distance from the tip of the bird’s bill to the end of its tail feathers.
On average, Upland Sandpipers have a body length between 11-13 inches (28-33 cm). Like their wingspan, this positions them as medium to large-sized shorebirds compared to related species.
Weight
The weight of a bird can also give a good indication of its relative size. Most Upland Sandpipers weigh between 5-11 ounces (150-300 grams).
Within this range, males tend to be heavier than females. Males can weigh up to 11 ounces compared to the average female weight of 7-8 ounces.
The higher weight likely gives males an advantage in flight and allows them to better endure long migratory journeys.
Lower Leg Length
Looking specifically at the leg anatomy, Upland Sandpipers have relatively long lower legs compared to other shorebirds. Their lower legs, from the base of the toes to the top of the tibiotarsal joint, are around 3.5-4 inches (9-10 cm) long.
This gives them an elevated stance and allows them to easily wade through shallow water and wet grasslands while foraging and hunting for prey.
Bill Length
The bill length is also a distinguishing feature for shorebird species identification and comparison. Upland Sandpipers have bills that measure around 1.5-2 inches (4-5 cm) long.
The bill length, relative to the bird’s body size, allows the Upland Sandpiper to probe into mud or soil to catch buried insects and other invertebrate prey. Their long bills give them an advantage when foraging in open grasslands.
Comparison to Other Shorebirds
We can contextualize the size of the Upland Sandpiper better by comparing it to some other common shorebird species:
Species | Body Length | Wingspan |
---|---|---|
Upland Sandpiper | 11-13 in (28-33 cm) | 18-22 in (45-55 cm) |
Killdeer | 9-11 in (22-28 cm) | 20-26 in (50-65 cm) |
Spotted Sandpiper | 7-8 in (18-20 cm) | 16-19 in (40-48 cm) |
Long-billed Curlew | 17-24 in (43-61 cm) | 27-35 in (68-89 cm) |
From this comparison, we can see that the Upland Sandpiper is larger than the Killdeer and Spotted Sandpiper, but smaller than the extra large Long-billed Curlew.
So in summary, the Upland Sandpiper is a medium to large-sized shorebird, similar in size to a mourning dove, with key physical traits like a long neck, lengthy bill, large wingspan, and lengthy legs to facilitate its lifestyle.
Male vs Female Size
There are some minor size differences between male and female Upland Sandpipers. As mentioned before, males tend to be slightly heavier than females on average.
Males can weigh up to 11 ounces compared to a female’s typical weight of 7-8 ounces. The males’ larger size likely developed to give them advantages in territorial defense and mate attraction displays.
In terms of length measurements, males tend to be just slightly larger than females though there is substantial overlap between the sexes. Males may measure at the higher end of the average wingspan and body length ranges.
Juvenile Size
Newly hatched Upland Sandpiper chicks are quite small, weighing only about 1 ounce (28 grams). However, they grow rapidly and are able to fly within just three weeks after hatching.
By the time they are one month old, juvenile Upland Sandpipers are about two-thirds of adult size. They will reach full adult dimensions by around 2-3 months of age.
Seasonal Size Changes
Upland Sandpipers exhibit seasonal changes in weight and fat deposits over the course of a year. These changes help prepare them for energetically demanding activities.
Around the spring breeding season, both males and females put on weight to provide energy for courtship flights, mating, and egg production. They may weigh over 10% more than during non-breeding periods.
Prior to fall migration, Upland Sandpipers bulk up their fat deposits to fuel the long journey south. During the migration itself, they gradually lose this extra fat as they burn calories flying.
By the time they reach the wintering grounds, seasonal weight loss brings them back down to baseline levels until the spring fattening cycle begins again.
Size Differences Across Range
When looking across the Upland Sandpiper’s vast geographic breeding range, which stretches across most of North America, there are no notable size differences between populations.
From Alaska to Florida, the birds maintain a consistent wing length and body size. This lack of major geographic variation suggests there is little evolutionary advantage to dramatically larger or smaller size in different regions.
Occasional subtle variations, like 5-10% longer wings or shorter tails, may exist between some isolated groups. But in general the species exhibits size uniformity across its full range.
Why Size Matters
The medium-large size of the Upland Sandpiper is integral to its lifestyle and survival strategy in several key ways:
- Their large wings provide aerodynamic benefits for efficient long-distance flight during seasonal migration.
- Long legs allow them to readily wade through grasslands and meadows while hunting insects and small vertebrate prey.
- A lengthy neck and bill help them probe into soil and vegetation to catch buried food.
- Ample fat deposits give enough energy to endure migration journeys up to 4,000 miles between breeding and wintering grounds.
Interestingly, the Upland Sandpiper exhibits very consistent size across time. Measurements from 100+ year old museum specimens fall within the exact same size ranges as modern birds.
This emphasizes that their dimensions have remained finely tuned by selection pressures over many generations. Any drastic shifts in size would likely carry negative consequences impacting survival and reproduction.
Conclusion
In summary, the Upland Sandpiper is classified as a medium to large shorebird with an average body length of 11-13 inches, wingspan of 18-22 inches, and weight between 5-11 ounces. The males tend to be slightly heavier than females on average.
They exhibit seasonal weight fluctuations connected to breeding cycle and migration energy needs. We see no major geographic size variations across their widespread North American range.
The Upland Sandpiper’s size characteristics, from its lengthy neck and legs to broad wings, provide important evolutionary benefits enabling its lifestyle as an insect-hunting shorebird that migrates vast distances between breeding and wintering habitats.