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Breeding Range (Fig. 66). Locally common throughout the Prairie Pothole Region; fairly common on the Coteau Slope, Missouri Slope, and in the northern portion of the Little Missouri Slope (within Dunn and McKenzie Counties); fairly common, locally, in the Agassiz Lake Plain Region (most numerous in areas of sandy soil, particularly in Grand Forks, Pembina, Ransom, and Richland Counties); uncommon in the southern portion of the Little Missouri Slope (within Billings, Golden Valley, Slope, and Bowman Counties).

Although, in general, the Upland Plover could be considered as a fairly common breeding species in North Dakota, it apparently was much more numerous in former years, particularly during the 1800's. Statements attesting to its former abundance may be found in reports by Abbott (1880), Allen (1874), Audubon (1897), Coues (1878), Grinnell (1875), Judd (1917), and Rolfe (1900a). The rapid reduction in numbers during the early 1900's was reported by Judd (1917), Williams (1926), Wood (1923), and Youngworth (1944a). Apparently, this decline was due largely to losses of prairie grassland habitat as a result of agricultural development.

Breeding Habitat. Especially characteristic of mixed-grass prairie and equally common on local extensive tracts of wet meadow; also occurs regularly in other habitats including grazed tall-grass prairie, tame haylands (alfalfa, wheatgrass, etc.), cropland retirement fields (usually planted with smooth brome, intermediate wheatgrass, or crested wheatgrass), and mowed or burned railroad or highway right-of-ways. In addition, a few pairs are found locally on croplands including bare cultivated fields, stubble fields, and fields with growing small-grain crops.

Nesting. Breeding season: Mid-May to late August; peak, late May to early July. Extreme egg dates (208 nests): May 15 [1965] in Stutsman County (RES) to July 22 [1970] in Stutsman County (L. M. Kirsch, K. F. Higgins). Extreme dates for dependent young (24 broods): June 14 [1971] in Stutsman County (L. M. Kirsch, K. F. Higgins) to August 2 [1913] in Golden Valley County (S. G. Jewett). Adults exhibiting territorial behaviour were recorded as late as August 24 [1972] in Stutsman County (P. F. Springer).

Of 199 nests found on the Woodworth Field Station in Stutsman County during 1967-1973, 183 were situated in grassland, most of which was native prairie (L. M. Kirsch, K. F. Higgins). In 1968 during intensive investigation of waterfowl nesting success along a highway right-of-way in Stutsman County, 11 nests of this species were found (Higgins et al. 1969). Nine other nests were found in Kidder and Stutsman Counties from 1961 to 1969 (H. A. Kantrud, RES); all of these were located in native mixed-grass prairie.

Indicated clutch size (73 nests): 4 eggs in each nest.

Figure 66. Breeding Range of Upland Plover.

Upland sandpiper on territory. Morton County, May 1965 (photo by Ed Bry).