The upland sandpiper breeds in North America and winters in South America, including the grasslands of the Pampas.
Unlike many sandpipers, the upland sandpiper is primarily a bird of dry grassland rather than mudflats or beaches. It breeds across the prairies of Canada and the United States and migrates south through Central America to South America. Its winter range includes Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and southern Brazil.
The species has a small head, long neck, and upright stance. It is famous for a distinctive rolling whistle that carries across open prairie. During breeding season, males perform display flights above grasslands, combining wingbeats with gliding.
The upland sandpiper is sometimes misidentified as a curlew because of its thin, slightly curved bill. It is not closely tied to coastal wetlands, and its conservation depends heavily on preserving native grasslands along both its breeding and wintering routes.