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Small Heath

Coenonympha pamphilus

1 photo

1 photographer

·Common · 1 pts

Tiny tawny butterfly of grassland; always lands with wings closed.

1 community photo of Small Heath on Things With Wings. Top-rated shots often use around 1/800ss shutter, 300mm.

Species Profile

Amber List (declining in some regions due to habitat loss and agricultural intensification)

Lifespan: 2–3 weeks as an adult butterfly; larvae develop over several months
Size & Weight: Wingspan 32–38 mm
Habitat: Open grasslands, heathland, meadows, and rough ground with sparse vegetation, particularly where fine grasses are abundant.
UK Distribution: Widespread throughout England, Wales, and southern Scotland; resident year-round with multiple generations per year, though absent from the far north.
Diet: Adults feed on nectar from wildflowers and sometimes aphid honeydew; caterpillars feed on fine grasses including Sheep's Fescue and Meadow Grass.
Predators: Spiders, robber flies, and bird species such as flycatchers and warblers.
Mating Season: May to September, with overlapping generations
Breeding: Three to four broods per year in the UK; females lay eggs singly on grass blades; caterpillar stage lasts 3–4 weeks; pupation occurs on or near the food plant.
Behaviour: Small Heath butterflies are weak, low fliers that rarely venture far from their breeding habitat. Males perch on grass stems and patrol in sunny weather, pursuing females with a characteristic bobbing flight. They rest with wings folded and are well-camouflaged when stationary.

Did You Know?

•The eyespots on the underside of the hindwings are thought to deflect predator attacks away from vital body parts.
•Small Heath populations can fluctuate dramatically year to year depending on spring weather conditions.
•They are among the earliest butterflies to emerge in spring, sometimes appearing in March.
•Males exhibit territorial behaviour, returning repeatedly to favoured basking spots on warm days.
•The species has a characteristic jerky, bouncing flight that distinguishes it from other small brown butterflies.

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Shutter

1/800ss

ISO Range

400

Aperture

f/f/8

Focal Length

300mm

🦋 Small Heath

Butterfly