Head to head
Small Heath vs Meadow Brown
Small Heath
VS Meadow Brown
The small heath and meadow brown are two common grassland butterflies of Europe whose caterpillars feed on grasses, but they differ in size, colour, and how many broods they raise.
| Small Heath | Meadow Brown | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Coenonympha pamphilus | Maniola jurtina |
| Size and colour | A small butterfly with orange-buff wings, grey-brown borders, and a small black eyespot near the tip of each forewing | A larger butterfly with brown wings, an orange patch, and a white-centred eyespot on each forewing |
| Behaviour | Almost always rests with its wings closed, and males perch low and dart out at rivals and passing females | Flies even on cloudy days, when many other butterflies stay settled |
| Habitat | Open grassland | Grassland, meadows, and road verges |
| Caterpillar food | Fine grasses such as fescues and meadow-grasses | Fine grasses |
| Broods | Often more than one brood a year in warmer areas, so adults fly from spring to autumn | One brood a year, on the wing through much of the summer |
| Range | Europe, western Asia, and North Africa | Europe, North Africa, and western Asia |
| Conservation status | Least Concern overall, though it has declined in parts of Britain | Least Concern, and one of the most numerous butterflies in many areas |
Small Heath vs Meadow Brown: common questions
Why does the small heath keep its wings closed?
It almost always rests with its wings shut, showing the pale, camouflaged underside rather than the brighter upper side.
Which one has more broods?
The small heath, which often has more than one brood a year in warmer areas, while the meadow brown has just one.
Are they related?
Yes, both belong to the browns, a group of butterflies whose caterpillars mostly feed on grasses.