However, it is roughly equaled in bulk by the North American ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis), which is also only marginally smaller going on mean standard measurements.

On pale morphs, the whitish chest is contrasted with dark brown areas widely but irregularly distributed across the lower breast and abdomen.

In flight on pale morphs, the major coverts are variable, appearing somewhat streaky brown, contrasted with a very strong blackish patagium mark.

The flight feathers appear whitish with a variable amount of dark barring leading into the blackish wingtips and trailing edges.

However, it is said it can be told from the long-legged buzzard by being slightly larger and lacking the warmer, sometimes rufous tones (rather than earthen brown) of that species.

However, the extent of patterns are roughly corresponding on both the upland and long-legged buzzard as well their proportions and size broadly overlaps between the two.

[14][15] A small molecular study found that there was not a strong genetic affinity between the upland and long-legged buzzards.

However, there is no strong evidence of regular interbreeding, to such a degree the specific definition of the buzzards blurs, despite their ranges broadly overlapping.

[17][18] The central portion of the breeding range, comprising a great majority, of the upland buzzard is in Mongolia and China, in the latter nation especially in the western, northern and northeastern areas.

[19] In the west, their breeding range may edge very slightly into far eastern Tajikistan, southeastern Kyrgyzstan and fairly recently in the East Kazakhstan Region, where they were documented to nest for the first time only in 1990.

[20][21] In the south, the upland buzzard may breed in the quite northern reaches of Bhutan, Nepal and now for the first recorded time in 1998 to nest in the Indian subcontinent within Changtang, Tibet.

Generally speaking, upland buzzards are not long-distance migrants and many travel minimal distances to winter.

[2][4][17][19] The upland buzzard is fairly typical Buteo often given to extensively soaring flights, with their wings held in quite a strong dihedral.

[2] The upland buzzard is a partial migrant, often traveling minimal distances in an apparent search of appropriate hunting areas.

[8] Further study of stable isotopes in this area determined that while small mammals were the primary foods, during downshifts in the populations of these preferred prey, upland buzzards in Tibet switch to subsiding on a variety of passerine birds, largely but not entirely fledglings, such as larks, buntings, finches and jays.

[4][13][28] Additionally, this buzzard was recorded as an occasional likely predator of Mongolian gazelles (Procapra gutturosa), born weighing about 2.9 kg (6.4 lb).

[2][4] The nest is constructed with sticks and well lined, often with wool, grass, dry dung and, perhaps detrimentally, human garbage.

[4] Breeding success is known to be food based and higher sibling competition and perhaps siblicide have been reported in instances where stable prey such as voles decline in population.