British Butterflies - An Online Guide by Steven Cheshire
Butterflies by Species
Butterflies by Family
Other Wildlife
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Species Flight Seasons and Distribution Maps
The following species are likely to be active as adult butterflies during the months shown below.

It should be noted that the distributions maps shown below are only approximate. The presence of each butterfly species in a particular location is primarily determined by the presence or absence of the specific habitat requirements or each particular species.

The maps are based on a wide variety of data including personal sightings, various publications and internet resources.

For acurate mapping data based on records submitted by volunteer recorders from across the UK, the following publications are highly recomended.

Asher. J., Warren, M., Fox, R., Harding, P., Jeffcoat, G., Jeffcoat, S.
(2001) The Millennium Atlas of Butterflies in Britain & Ireland, Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Fox, R., Asher. J., Brereton. T., Roy, D & Warren, M.
(2006) The State of Butterflies in Britain & Ireland, Pices, Oxford.
  Lifecycle & Flight Charts  
  Want to know what time of year you can see different butterflies?

Butterflies in JanuaryButterflies in FebruaryButterflies in MarchButterflies in AprilButterflies in MayButterflies in June
Butterflies in JulyButterflies in AugustButterflies in SeptemberButterflies in OctoberButterflies in NovemberButterflies in December

UK distribution maps with flight times:
view all species
 
Distribution of the Adonis Blue shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Adonis Blue
Distribution of the Apollo shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Apollo
Distribution of the Bath White shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Bath White
Distribution of the Berger's Clouded Yellow shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Berger's Clouded Yellow
Distribution of the Black Hairstreak shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Black Hairstreak
Distribution of the Black-eyed Blue shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Black-eyed Blue
Distribution of the Black-veined White shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Black-veined White
Distribution of the Blue Spot Hairstreak shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Blue Spot Hairstreak
Distribution of the Brimstone shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Brimstone
Distribution of the Brown Argus shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Brown Argus
Distribution of the Brown Hairstreak shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Brown Hairstreak
Distribution of the Camberwell Beauty shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Camberwell Beauty
Distribution of the Chalkhill Blue shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Chalkhill Blue
Distribution of the Chequered Skipper shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Chequered Skipper
Distribution of the Cleopatra shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Cleopatra
Distribution of the Clouded Yellow shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Clouded Yellow
Distribution of the Comma shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Comma
Distribution of the Common Blue shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Common Blue
Distribution of the Dark Green Fritillary shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Dark Green Fritillary
Distribution of the Dingy Skipper shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Dingy Skipper
Distribution of the Duke of Burgundy shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Duke of Burgundy
Distribution of the Essex Skipper shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Essex Skipper
Distribution of the False Heath Fritillary shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
False Heath Fritillary
Distribution of the False Ilex Hairstreak shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
False Ilex Hairstreak
Distribution of the Gatekeeper shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Gatekeeper
Distribution of the Geranium Bronze shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Geranium Bronze
Distribution of the Glanville Fritillary shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Glanville Fritillary
Distribution of the Grayling shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Grayling
Distribution of the Green Hairstreak shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Green Hairstreak
Distribution of the Green Underside Blue shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Green Underside Blue
Distribution of the Green-veined White shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Green-veined White
Distribution of the Grizzled Skipper shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Grizzled Skipper
Distribution of the Heath Fritillary shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Heath Fritillary
Distribution of the High Brown Fritillary shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
High Brown Fritillary
Distribution of the Holly Blue shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Holly Blue
Distribution of the Ilex Hairstreak shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Ilex Hairstreak
Distribution of the Knapweed Fritillary shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Knapweed Fritillary
Distribution of the Lang's Short Tailed Blue shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Lang's Short Tailed Blue
Distribution of the Large Blue shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Large Blue
Distribution of the Large Chequered Skipper shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Large Chequered Skipper
Distribution of the Large Copper British Race shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Large Copper British Race
Distribution of the Large Heath shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Large Heath
Distribution of the Large Skipper shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Large Skipper
Distribution of the Large Tortoiseshell shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Large Tortoiseshell
Distribution of the Large Wall shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Large Wall
Distribution of the Large White shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Large White
Distribution of the Long-tailed Blue shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Long-tailed Blue
Distribution of the Lulworth Skipper shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Lulworth Skipper
Distribution of the Mallow Skipper shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Mallow Skipper
Distribution of the Map shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Map
Distribution of the Marbled Fritillary shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Marbled Fritillary
Distribution of the Marbled Skipper shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Marbled Skipper
Distribution of the Marbled White shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Marbled White
Distribution of the Marsh Fritillary shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Marsh Fritillary
Distribution of the Mazarine Blue shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Mazarine Blue
Distribution of the Meadow Brown shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Meadow Brown
Distribution of the Meadow Fritillary shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Meadow Fritillary
Distribution of the Monarch shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Monarch
Distribution of the Moroccan Orange-Tip shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Moroccan Orange-Tip
Distribution of the Mountain Ringlet shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Mountain Ringlet
Distribution of the Northern Brown Argus shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Northern Brown Argus
Distribution of the Oberthur's Skipper shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Oberthur's Skipper
Distribution of the Orange-tip shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Orange-tip
Distribution of the Painted Lady shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Painted Lady
Distribution of the Pale Clouded Yellow shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Pale Clouded Yellow
Distribution of the Peacock shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Peacock
Distribution of the Pearl-bordered Fritillary shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Distribution of the Pearly Heath shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Pearly Heath
Distribution of the Purple Emperor shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Purple Emperor
Distribution of the Purple Hairstreak shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Purple Hairstreak
Distribution of the Purple-edged Copper shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Purple-edged Copper
Distribution of the Purple-Shot Copper shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Purple-Shot Copper
Distribution of the Queen of Spain Fritillary shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Queen of Spain Fritillary
Distribution of the Real's Wood White shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Real's Wood White
Distribution of the Red Admiral shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Red Admiral
Distribution of the Red Underside Skipper shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Red Underside Skipper
Distribution of the Ringlet shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Ringlet
Distribution of the Safflower Skipper shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Safflower Skipper
Distribution of the Scarce Copper shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Scarce Copper
Distribution of the Scarce Swallowtail shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Scarce Swallowtail
Distribution of the Scotch Argus shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Scotch Argus
Distribution of the Short-tailed Blue shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Short-tailed Blue
Distribution of the Silver-spotted Skipper shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Silver-spotted Skipper
Distribution of the Silver-studded Blue shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Silver-studded Blue
Distribution of the Silver-washed Fritillary shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Silver-washed Fritillary
Distribution of the Small Blue shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Small Blue
Distribution of the Small Copper shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Small Copper
Distribution of the Small Heath shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Small Heath
Distribution of the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Distribution of the Small Skipper shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Small Skipper
Distribution of the Small Tortoiseshell shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Small Tortoiseshell
Distribution of the Small White shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Small White
Distribution of the Sooty Copper shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Sooty Copper
Distribution of the Spanish Brown Argus shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Spanish Brown Argus
Distribution of the Spanish Purple Hairstreak shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Spanish Purple Hairstreak
Distribution of the Speckled Wood shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Speckled Wood
Distribution of the Spotted Fritillary shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Spotted Fritillary
Distribution of the Swallowtail British Race shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Swallowtail British Race
Distribution of the Swallowtail European Race shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Swallowtail European Race
Distribution of the Violet Fritillary shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Violet Fritillary
Distribution of the Wall Brown shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Wall Brown
Distribution of the Weaver's Fritillary shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Weaver's Fritillary
Distribution of the Western Dappled White shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Western Dappled White
Distribution of the White Admiral shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
White Admiral
Distribution of the White-letter Hairstreak shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
White-letter Hairstreak
Distribution of the Wood White shown in dark green.
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Wood White
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