The brown butterflies Subfamily Satyrinae
 
This group of common butterflies were once placed in the family Satyridae, but are now included within the Nymphalidae (brush-footed butterflies) as the sub-family Satyrinae. Globally there are in excess of 2,400 species in this group 1., and there are eleven British and Irish species, with another six of very doubtful status.2.  
 
As a group (at least the garden species) are in shadews of orange to brown to nearly black.  They are often very beautifully patterned, and are attractive busy butterflies.
 
Five species are commonly seen in gardens:
  
 
References
 
1.  Wikipedia article on the group
2.  UK Butterflies website
 
 
Page written and compiled by Steve Head
 
 
 
 
Male
Female
 
Meadow brown
Large, wingspan 40-45mm42-60mm
 
Male dark brown, female paler with lighter patch on forewing.
 
Single eye-spot on forewing, with one white "pupil"
Male
Female
Gatekeeper
Smaller than meadow brown,37-43mm 42-48mm
 
Overall more orange than brown, male with dark border and sex brand to forewing.
 
Single forewing eye-spot but with two white "pupils""
Female
Male
Speckled wood 
A bit larger than the meadow brown, 46-52mm 48-56mm
 
Dark brown with yellow-cream blotches, and eye spots on both sets of wings.
Sexes alike
Ringlet 
Medium wingspan 42-48mm 46-52mm
 
Dark chocolate brown with faint spots on upper side of wings, and prominent eye-spots on the underwings
Female
Male
Wall butterfly
Medium wingspan 45 to 53mm
Overall yellow/orange with prominent eyespots and checkerboard markings
 
Sexes alike, male with prominent dark sex-brand across middle of forewing
 
 
 
Be aware of: 
Small heath
 
Our smallest "brown" with wingspan 34mm and 38mm.  They look a bit like a small pale gatekeeper but with tiny upperside spots.  The male has androconia but they do not show up as a sex brand.
 
Flight is much weaker than the other "browns". 
 
Not often seen in gardens, but widely distributed and quite common, but has declined in numbers since 1976.
Marbled white  
 
Our largest "brown" wingspan ♂ 53 mm, ♀ 58 mm
 
A "brown" despite its name and appearance, this very distinctive butterfly is uncommon in gardens.
Found in central and southern England and South Wales where it lives in unimproved tall grassland.
 
 
The brown butterflies Subfamily Satyrinae
 
This group of common butterflies were once placed in the family Satyridae, but are now included within the Nymphalidae (brush-footed butterflies) as the sub-family Satyrinae. Globally there are in excess of 2,400 species in this group 1., and there are eleven British and Irish species, with another six of very doubtful status.2.  
 
As a group (at least the garden species) colours are in shades of orange to brown to nearly black.  They are often very beautifully patterned, and are attractive busy butterflies.
 
Five species are commonly seen in gardens:
  
 
Meadow brown
Large, wingspan ♂40-45mm♀42-60mm
Male dark brown, female paler with lighter patch on forewing.
Single eye-spot on forewing, with one white "pupil"
Male
Female
Female
Male
Gatekeeper
Smaller than meadow brown,♂37-43mm ♀42-48mm
Overall more orange than brown, male with dark border and sex brand to forewing.
Single forewing eye-spot but with two white "pupils""
Speckled wood 
A bit larger than the meadow brown, ♂46-52mm ♀48-56mm
Dark brown with yellow-cream blotches, and eye spots on both sets of wings.
Sexes alike
Ringlet 
Medium wingspan ♂42-48mm ♀46-52mm
Dark chocolate brown with faint spots on upper side of wings, and prominent eye-spots on the underwings
Male
Female
Wall butterfly
Medium wingspan 45 to 53mm
Overall yellow/orange with prominent eyespots and checkerboard markings
 
Sexes alike, male with prominent dark sex-brand across middle of forewing
 
 
 
Small heath
 
Our smallest "brown" with wingspan ♂34mm and ♀38mm.  They look a bit like  small pale gatekeeper but with tiny upperside spots.  The male has androconia but they do not show up as a sex brand.
 
Flight is much weaker than the other "browns"
 
Not often seen in gardens, but widely distributed and quite common, but has declined in numbers since 1976.
Marbled white  
 
Our largest "brown" 
wingspan ♂ 53 mm, ♀ 58 mm
 
A "brown" despite its name and appearance, this very distinctive butterfly is uncommon in gardens.
Found in central and southern England and South Wales where it lives in unimproved tall grassland.
 
 
References
 
1.  Wikipedia article on the group
2.  UK Butterflies website
 
 
Page written and compiled by Steve Head
 
 
 
 
Female
Male
       Garden Wildlife
             Garden Wildlife
Be aware of: