What do they look like?
The meadow brown is sometimes described as a drab or dull butterfly, which seems a little unfair on a butterfly that is so widespread, flies in all kinds of habitats and enters our gardens, let alone its contribution to science (see below). However, it is certainly less colourful than the gatekeeper, with which it often flies and is sometimes confused. The predominant colour on the upperwings is brown with a splash of orange on the forewings – this varies in size and intensity but is always larger and brighter in the female. Both sexes have a forewing eyespot near the top of the orange patch and again this is more prominent in the female. Males have a nearly black area of
androconia towards the middle of the bottom of the forewing, but it doesn't stand out as a sex brand.
The undersides are similar in both: a two-tone brown hind wing and a forewing with an eyespot against an orange background. Females are more brightly coloured. Small spots are sometimes present on the underwings but this is very variable.
The wingspan is between 40 and 55mm for males; 42 to 60mm for females.
Where are they found (in Britain and Ireland)
All Britain and Ireland, except high mountains and Shetland
What is their preferred habitat outside gardens?
As the name suggests the meadow brown likes grasslands such as hay meadows, downland, coastal dunes and cliffs but can be seen in almost any habitat including woodland, roadside verges, hedgerows, and waste ground.
Resident or migrant?
Resident
When to see them?
Although meadow browns are short-lived butterflies with only one brood per year, their emergence and overall flight period is quite protracted and they can be seen from May to September, depending on the weather. It is one of the few butterflies that will fly on dull, overcast days, even with light rain.
What happens in winter?
They overwinter as caterpillars hiding away in grass clumps but practise partial hibernation – emerging to feed whenever it is warm enough. There are five moults in total and they may even go through a moult during the winter if they have grown enough. Feeding starts again in earnest in spring and they enter pupation from May onwards. Some, however, mature quite slowly, pupating later and producing butterflies late in the flight period.