Badger

Meles meles

Family: Mustelidae

Habitat: Woodland and scrub.

Food: Earthworms, insects, fruit, carrion, cereals and fruit.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Badgers are sociable forming groups of around six adults. They are burrowing animals and construct complicated setts which are passed down the generations. They typically emerge late afternoon.

Rabbit

Oryctolagus cuniculus

Family: Leporidae (Hares and Rabbits)

Habitat: Farmland, gardens and parks, grasslands, meadows and orchards.

Food: Mainly grasses but also leaves, buds, tree bark, roots, lettuce, cabbage, root vegetables, and grains.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Near Threatened

Sociable mammals, they dig a network of burrows, called warrens, where they live in medium sized colonies safe from some predators such as birds of prey. Although mainly crepuscular they are also active during the day.

Red Fox

Vulpes vulpes crucigera

Family: Canidae

Habitat: Farmland, gardens and parks, woodland, heathland, grassland, sand dunes and sea cliffs.

Size: Height 35-50 cm (14-20 in). Length 45-90 cm (18-35 in). Tail 30-56 cm (12-22 in).

Food: Rodents, rabbits, birds, fruit and vegetables, fish, frogs, and worms.

Sound: Vocal range of five octaves. Various barks and screams.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Common Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

Family: Delphinidae (Marine Dolphins)

Habitat: Temperate and tropical oceans throughout the world.

Size: Length 2 and 4 m (6.6 and 13.1 ft).

Food: Fish.

Sound: Clicking sounds, squeaks, whistles, slapping sounds of tail or body on water.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Live in pods that typically number about 15 individuals.

Fulmar

Fulmarus glacialis

Family: Procellariidae (Shearwaters and allies)

Habitat: Sea cliffs.

Size: Length 46 cm (18 in). Wingspan 102-112 cm (40-44 in).

Food: Shrimp, fish, squid, plankton, jellyfish, carrion and crustaceans.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Herring Gull

Larus argentatus

Family: Laridae (Gulls)

Habitat: Coastal, gardens and parks, lakes and reservoirs, beaches and shorelines, estuaries and brownfield.

Size: Length 26 in (66 cm)

Food: Omnivorous - fish, crustaceans, carrion and plants.

Voice: Laughing call, yelping alarm call and low barking anxiety call.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Jackdaw

Corvus monedula

Family: Corvidae (Crows)

Habitat: Fields, woods, parks and gardens.

Size: Length 34 to 39 centimetres (13 to 15 in).

Food: Fruit, seeds, invertebrates, insects, young birds, and eggs.

Voice: Metallic and squeaky chyak-chyak or kak-kak.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

A skilled flyer thatcanmanoeuvre tightly and tumble and glide.

Rock Pipit

Anthus petrosus

Family: Motacillidae (Pipits and wagtails)

Habitat: Beaches and shorelines and sea cliffs.

Size: Length 16.5-17 centimetres (6.5-6.7 in).

Food: Insects, beetles, small fish, small shellfish and seeds.

Voice: Call pseep. Song Cheepa, cheepa ... gee gee ... trill.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Kittiwake

Rissa tridactyla

Family: Laridae (Gulls)

Habitat: Sea cliffs.

Size: Length 37-41 cm (15-16 in). Wingspan 91-105 cm (36-41 in).

Food: Fish, shrimps and worms.

Voice: Kittii-wa-aake, kittii-wa-aake.

Season: All year round. Resident February until August.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

The kittiwake (Black-legged) nests on coastal cliffs in large, dense and noisy colonies.

Whitethroat

Sylvia communis

Family: Sylviidae (Warblers and allies)

Habitat: Heathlands and woodland.

Food: Insects, berries and fruit.

Voice: Wed-wed or woid-woid. Harsh tschack.

Season: Early April to late October.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Winters in tropical Africa, Arabia, and Pakistan.

Lesser Whitethroat

Sylvia curruca

Family: Sylviidae (Warblers and allies)

Habitat: Hedgerows and scrub.

Food: Insects, fruit and berries.

Season: Early April to late October.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Builds its nest in low shrub or brambles.

Stonechat

Saxicola rubicola

Family: Muscicapidae (Old World flycatchers)

Habitat: Coastal, heathlands and coniferous woods.

Food: Invertebrates, seeds and fruit such as blackberries.

Voice: Weest tack tack and warble song.

Season: All year round. All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Corn Bunting

Emberiza calandra

Family: Emberizidae (Buntings)

Habitat: Farmland.

Size: Length 16-19 cm.

Food: Seeds and insects.

Voice: Repetitive sound similar to jangling keys.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Yellowhammer

Emberiza citrinella

Family: Emberizidae (Buntings)

Habitat: Grasslands, heathlands, hedgerows and scrub.

Size: Length 16-16.5 cm (6.3-6.5 in).Wingspan 23-29.5 cm (9.1-11.6 in).

Food: Seeds and insects.

Voice: Twick call and tzee-tzee-tzee-tzooo.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Rapid population decline has lead to a red status in the UK.

Green Woodpecker

Picus viridis

Family: Picidae (Woodpeckers and allies)

Habitat: Gardens and parks, grasslands, heathlands and woodland.

Food: Ants.

Voice: Distinctive ringing laugh yah, yah, yah.

Season: All year round. All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Green woodpeckers spend a lot of time eating ants on the ground. They breed in oval holes they peck in dead wood.

Skylark

Alauda arvensis

Family: Alaudidae (Larks)

Habitat: Farmland, grasslands, heathlands and woodland.

Size: Length 16-18 cm (6.3-7.1 in).

Food: Seeds and insects.

Voice: Musical chirrup, prriee and prreet often mimics other birds.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Often hovers or circles while singing.

Peregrine

Falco peregrinus

Family: Falconidae (Falcons and allies)

Habitat: Marsh, sea cliffs and purple moor grass and rush pasture.

Size: Length 34-58 cm (13-23 in). Wingspan 74-120 cm (29-47 in).

Food: Small and medium sized birds.

Voice: Harsh reck-reck-reck.

Season: All year round.

Hunts at dawn and dusk, swooping down on birds in flight at great speed usually knocking them out with the impact.

Merlin

Falco columbarius

Family: Falconidae (Falcons and allies)

Habitat: Coastal, grasslands, heathlands, lowland fen, lowland raised bog and reedbeds.

Food: Mainly small birds.

Voice: Kee-kee-kee.

Season: All year round. All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Red-throated Diver

Gavia stellata

Family: Gaviidae (Divers)

Habitat: Arctic tundra, coastal, lakes and reservoirs, rivers and streams and sea cliffs.

Size: Length 55-67 cm (22 to 26 in).

Food: Fish.

Season: Early August to late April.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Brent Goose

Branta bernicla

Family: Anatidae (Swans, ducks and geese)

Habitat: Coastal grazing marsh and estuaries.

Size: Length 55-66 cm (22-26 in). Wingspan 106-121 cm (42-48 in).

Food: Vegetation, especially eel-grass.

Season: Early October to late March.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Common Scoter

Melanitta nigra

Family: Anatidae (Swans, ducks and geese)

Habitat: Beaches and shorelines and estuaries.

Size: Length 43-54 cm (17-21 in).

Food: Crustaceans, molluscs, aquatic insects and small fish.

Season: All year round. Larger numbers October to March.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Arctic Skua

Stercorarius parasiticus

Family: Stercorariidae (Skuas)

Habitat: Coastal and sea stacks.

Size: Length 41-48 cm (16-19 in). Wingspan 107-125 cm (42-49 in).

Food: Mainly fish, some eggs, small birds, rodents and insects.

Season: Early April to late October.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Also known as the parasitic skua as it steals the catches of gulls and terns.

Great Skua

Stercorarius skua

Family: Stercorariidae (Skuas)

Habitat: Coastal, sea stacks and sea cliffs.

Size: Length 50-58 cm (20-23 in). Wingspan 125-140 cm (49-55 in).

Food: Fish, birds, eggs, carrion, offal, rodents, rabbits, and berries.

Voice: Harsh hah-hah-hah-hah.

Season: Early April to late July.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

They steal the catch of gulls, terns and northern gannets.

Pomarine Skua

Stercorarius pomarinus

Family: Stercorariidae (Skuas)

Habitat: Arctic tundra and sea cliffs.

Size: Length 46-67 cm (18-26 in). Wingspan 110-138 cm (43-54 in).

Food: Lemmings, fish, carrion and birds.

Voice: Which-yew.

Season: Early August to late November. Also late April to May.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Bar-tailed Godwit

Limosa lapponica

Family: Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and allies)

Habitat: Shoreline of sandy beaches and bays also sand flats, mud flats and the shores of lakes and rivers. Breeds on arctic tundra.

Size: Length 37-41 cm (15-16 in). Wingspan 70-80 cm (28-31 in).

Food: Worms, snails and insects.

Voice: Kuway-Kuway-Kuway.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Near Threatened

Its migration is the longest known non-stop flight of any bird.

Wheatear

Oenanthe oenanthe

Family: Muscicapidae (Old World flycatchers)

Habitat: Grasslands, heathlands and beaches and shorelines.

Food: Insects and larvae.

Voice: Call: chack. Song: crackly whistle.

Season: Early March to late October.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Chiffchaff

Phylloscopus collybita

Family: Phylloscopidae (Leaf and wing warblers)

Habitat: Gardens and parks, woodland and hedgerows.

Food: Insects from trees and flight.

Voice: Sharp series of chiff chaff sounds. Hoo-eet call.

Season: All year round. Migrants late March to September.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Olive green warbler that gets its name from its distinctive chiff chaff song. The female builds a domed nest on or near the ground.

Firecrest

Regulus ignicapilla

Family: Regulidae (Kinglets)

Habitat: Hedgerows, mixed scrub, scrub, native pine woods and coniferous woods.

Size: Length 9 cm (3.5 in). Wingspan 13-16 cm (5.1-6.3 in).

Food: Spiders, moth eggs and other small insect food.

Voice: High pitched see notes ending in flourish.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Along with the goldcrest it is the UK's smallest bird.

Black Redstart

Phoenicurus ochruros

Family: Muscicapidae (Old World flycatchers)

Habitat: Towns and gardens, sea cliffs and brownfield.

Size: Length 13-14.5 cm (5.1-5.7 in).

Food: Insects, spiders, worms, berries and seeds.

Voice: Call: tick.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Wryneck

Jynx torquilla

Family: Picidae (Woodpeckers and allies)

Habitat: Gardens and parks, heathlands, orchards, hedgerows, coniferous woods and deciduous woods.

Size: Length 16.5 cm (6.5 in)

Food: Ants.

Voice: Shrill quee-quee-quee-quee.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Icterine Warbler

Hippolais icterina

Family: Acrocephalidae (Warblers)

Habitat: Gardens and parks, orchards, hedgerows and woodland clearings and edges.

Size: Length 14 cm.

Food: Insects and fruit.

Voice: Tec, tec, tec.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Pallas's Warbler

Phylloscopus proregulus

Family: Phylloscopidae (Leaf and wing warblers)

Habitat: Deciduous forest, scrub, lowland mixed deciduous, coniferous woods and deciduous woods.

Size: Length 9-10 cm (3.5-3.9 in).

Food: Insects and spiders.

Voice: Whistles with interspersed trills.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Yellow-browed Warbler

Phylloscopus inornatus

Family: Phylloscopidae (Leaf and wing warblers)

Habitat: Deciduous forest, montane forest, lowland mixed deciduous, coniferous woods, deciduous woods and woodland clearings and edges.

Size: Length 9.5-11 cm (3.7- 4.3 in).

Food: Insects and spiders.

Voice: Call: tseeweest.

Season: All year round. Very rare visitor.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Honey-buzzard

Pernis apivorus

Family: Accipitridae (Hawks and eagles)

Habitat: Woodland, sea cliffs and valley mire.

Size: Length 52-60 cm (20-24 in). Wingspan 135-150-cm (53-59 in).

Food: Mainly insect larvae of wasps and bees.

Season: Mid May to mid August.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Buzzard

Buteo buteo

Family: Accipitridae (Hawks and eagles)

Habitat: Coastal, farmland, grassland, heathland and woodland.

Size: Length 40-58 cm (16-23 in). Wingspan 109-136 cm (43-54 in).

Food: Small mammals, birds, carrion, earthworms and large insects.

Voice: Cat like mewing.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Takes off with distinctive slow wing beats, often circling or hovering. Frequently uses fence posts or similar as look-outs.

Marsh Harrier

Circus aeruginosus

Family: Accipitridae (Hawks and eagles)

Habitat: Marsh, wetlands and freshwaters and reedbeds.

Size: Length 43-54 cm (17-21 in). Wingspan 115-130 cm (45-51 in).

Food: Small mammals, small birds, insects, reptiles, and frogs.

Season: Early April to late October. April to October.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

It searches for prey by gliding low over flat open ground with its wings in a shallow V-shape and dangling legs.

Hobby

Falco subbuteo

Family: Falconidae (Falcons and allies)

Habitat: Savanna, farmland, heathlands, marsh and wetlands and freshwaters.

Size: Length 29-36 cm (11-14 in). Wingspan 74-84 cm (29-33 in). Weight. 175-285 g (6.2-10.1 oz)

Food: Insects, small birds and bats.

Season: Early April to late October.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Hobbies nest in old nests of crows and other birds.

Osprey

Pandion haliaetus

Family: Pandionidae (Osprey)

Habitat: Lakes and reservoirs and lochs.

Size: Length 60 cm (24 in). Wingspan 180 cm (71 in).

Food: Fish mainly. Rarely rodents, rabbits, amphibians, birds reptiles.

Voice: Cheep, cheep or yewk, yewk sharp whistles.

Season: Early March to late September. March to September.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Ospreys can see underwater objects from the 40 m above the water.

Sparrowhawk

Accipiter nisus

Family: Accipitridae (Hawks and eagles)

Habitat: Gardens and parks, grasslands and woodland.

Food: Mainly small birds. Sometimes bats.

Voice: Sharp keck-keck-keck.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Males fly up and dive down again to impress females. The female is notably bigger than the male and so can catch larger prey.

Kestrel

Falco tinnunculus

Family: Falconidae (Falcons and allies)

Habitat: Farmland, woodland, grassland and heathland.

Size: Length 32-39 cm (13-15 in). Wingspan 65-82 cm (26-32 in).

Food: Small mammals and birds.

Voice: Piercing Kee-kee-kee.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Kestrels hover at a height of about 10-20 metres either by flying into the wind or by soaring using ridge lift before swooping down on their prey.

Black-throated Diver

Gavia arctica

Family: Gaviidae (Divers)

Habitat: Coastal and lakes and reservoirs.

Size: Length 58-77 cm (23-30 in). Wingspan 100-130 cm (39-51 in).

Food: Fish, insects, crustaceans and amphibians.

Voice: Yodelling high-pitched wail.

Season: Late October to mid March.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Great Northern Diver

Gavia immer

Family: Gaviidae (Divers)

Habitat: Lakes and reservoirs, beaches and shorelines and estuaries.

Size: Length 70-90 cm. Wingspan 1.2-1.5 m.

Food: Fish and crustaceans.

Season: Early August to late April.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Serin

Serinus serinus

Family: Fringillidae (Finches)

Habitat: Farmland and woodland clearings and edges.

Size: 11-12 cm (4.3-4.7 in).

Food: Seeds, buds and small invertebrates.

Season: All year round. Very rare visitor. Mostly in April and May.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Hoopoe

Upupa epops

Family: Upupidae

Habitat: Farmland, gardens and parks, grasslands, heathlands, orchards, sea cliffs, savanna woodlands and woodland clearings and edges.

Size: Length 10-15 cm (4-6 in).

Food: Insects and spiders, small reptiles, frogs, seeds and berries.

Season: Late April to late May.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Hoopoes sunbathe by spreading out their wings and tail low against the ground and tilting their head up.

Red-backed Shrike

Lanius collurio

Family: Laniidae (Shrikes and allies)

Habitat: Mixed scrub.

Size: Length 16-18 cm (6.3-7.1 inches).

Food: Insects, and small birds and mammals.

Voice: Shrill call.

Season: Early May to late October. North: May to June. South: August to October.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Named from Old English scríc (shriek) after its shrill call.

Ortolan Bunting

Emberiza hortulana

Family: Emberizidae (Buntings)

Habitat: Farmland and scrub.

Size: Length 16 cm (6.3 in).

Food: Seeds and insects.

Voice: Call zrit.

Season: Late March to late October. Very rare visitor in spring and autumn.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Male sings usually perched on top of vegetation.

Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Family: Meropidae

Habitat: Farmland, rivers and streams and sea cliffs.

Size: Length 27-29 cm (10.6-11.4 in).

Food: Insects, especially bees, wasps, and hornets.

Season: All year round. Very rare visitor.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Alpine Swift

Apus melba

Family: Apodidae (Swifts)

Habitat: Towns and gardens, woodland, sea cliffs, coniferous woods and deciduous woods.

Size: Length 20-23 cm (7.9-9.1 in). Wingspan of 57 cm (22 in).

Food: Flying insects.

Season: All year round. Very rare visitor. Summer mainly.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Remarkably, Alpine swifts can spend over six months flying without having to land, performing all vital physiological processes, including sleep, in the air.

Crag Martin

Ptyonoprogne rupestris

Family: Hirundinidae (Swallows and martins)

Habitat: Sea cliffs and rocky slopes.

Size: Length 13-15 cm (5.1-5.9 in). Wingspan 32-34.5 cm (12.6-13.6 in).

Food: Insects and aerial spiders.

Season: All year round. Very rare visitor.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Short-toed Lark

Calandrella brachydactyla

Family: Alaudidae (Larks)

Habitat: Farmland and grasslands.

Size: Length: 14 cm (5.5 in). Wingspan 9 cm (3.5 in). Weight 22 g.

Food: Seeds and insects.

Voice: Tchi-tchirrp twittering, tee-oo alarm call, and imitates other birds' melodies.

Season: All year round. Very rare visitor.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Also known as the Greater Short-toed Lark.

Rose-coloured Starling

Pastor roseus

Family: Sturnidae (Starlings)

Habitat: Farmland, grasslands and steppes.

Size: Length 22-26 cm (8.7-10.2 in).

Food: Fruits, berries, flower-nectar, cereal grains and insects.

Voice: Mixture of whistling and warbling phrases.

Season: All year round. Very rare visitor. Summer mainly.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Black-headed Bunting

Emberiza melanocephala

Family: Emberizidae (Buntings)

Habitat: Farmland and scrub.

Size: Length 15 cm (6 in).

Food: Seeds and insects.

Voice: Call zrit.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Male sings usually perched on top of vegetation.

Black-and-white Warbler

Mniotilta varia

Family: Parulidae (New World warblers)

Habitat: Deciduous forest, deciduous woods and woodland clearings and edges.

Size: Length 14 cm (6 in).

Food: Insects and spiders.

Voice: Song: see wee-see.

Season: All year round. Very rare visitor.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Adder

Vipera berus

Family: Viperidae

Habitat: Heathlands, meadows, woodland, hedgerows, lowland calcareous grassland and dune heath.

Size: Length 60 cm (24 in).

Food: Small mammals, birds, lizards, amphibians and slow worms.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Adders are not usually aggressive, tending to be rather timid and biting only when cornered or alarmed. The venom toxicity is relatively low however there have been fatalities.

Grass Snake

Natrix natrix

Family: Viperidae

Habitat: Woodland and ponds.

Size: Length ♀ 90-110 cm (35in-43 in) ♂ 50 cm (20 in). 75 5 7.3 7.5

Food: Amphibians, ants and larvae.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Grass snakes are strong swimmers and are also called the water snake.

Some have been recorded over 190cm (75in) long.

Slow-worm

Anguis fragilis

Family: Anguidae

Season: All year round.

Silver-spotted Skipper

Hesperia comma

Family: Hesperiidae (skipper)

Habitat: Lowland calcareous grassland.

Food: Sheep's-fescue (larva). Thistles (adult).

Flight: Early July to late September.

Named after thesilver spots on the underside of its forewing. The male is distinguished from the female by a dark line of specialised scent scales on its forewings.

Dingy Skipper

Erynnis tages

Family: Hesperiidae (skipper)

Habitat: Grasslands, heathlands, sand dunes, scrub, lowland calcareous grassland and woodland clearings and edges.

Size: Wingspan 27-34 mm (1.1-1.3 in).

Food: Bird's-foot trefoil, horseshoe vetch and greater bird's-foot trefoil.

Flight: Early April to late August. Swift and low.

The caterpillar creates a shelter by spinning leaves together and feeds until fully grown in August. It then creates a larger hibernaculum where it hibernates.

Clouded Yellow

Colias croceus

Family: Pieridae (Yellows-and-Whites)

Habitat: Grasslands, meadows and sea cliffs.

Size: Length 24 mm (0.9 in)

Food: Clovers, lucerne (alfalfa), vetches et al.

Flight: Early April to late October. April to October.

Fast-flying butterfly that winters as a caterpillar.

Green Hairstreak

Callophrys rubi

Family: Lycaenidae (Blue)

Habitat: Grasslands, heathlands and scrub.

Size: Length 15 mm (0.6 in).

Food: Many shrubs and herbs also gorse, broom, heather, bilberry, rock-rose and others.

Flight: Early June to late September. June till September.

The upper side is brown but can never be seen at rest as it always closes its wings.

In flight the green and brown flashing of the wings camouflages it well.

White-letter Hairstreak

Satyrium w-album

Family: Lycaenidae (Blue)

Habitat: Woodland and hedgerows.

Size: Length 16 mm (0.63 in). Wingspan 25-35 mm (1-1.4 in).

Food: Elm honeydew, creeping thistle and bramble blossom.

Flight: Early June to late August.

Winter is spent as an egg on an elm tree. The caterpillar hatches in march and feeds on the elm flowers and seeds.

Named after the W shaped white line on its underside.

Adonis Blue

Polyommatus bellargus

Family: Lycaenidae (Blue)

Habitat: Lowland calcareous grassland.

Size: Length 17 mm (0.7 in).

Food: Horseshoe Vetch (Hippocrepis comosa).

Flight: Early May to late September.

Females are chocolate brown. Both male and female have black and white borders.

Dark Green Fritillary

Argynnis aglaja

Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed)

Habitat: Grasslands, heathlands, woodland and sand dunes.

Size: Length 30 mm (1.2 in).

Food: Violets (viola).

Flight: Early June to late August.

The underside of the hindwing and underside tip of the forewing are greenish.

A fast flying butterfly.

Small Skipper

Thymelicus sylvestris

Family: Hesperiidae (skipper)

Habitat: Grasslands, field edges and woodland glades.

Size: Length 14 mm. Wingspan 25-30 mm.

Food: Yorkshire fog almost exclusively but sometimes Timothy, Creeping Soft-grass, False Brome, Meadow Foxtail, and Cocks-foot.

Flight: Early June to late August.

The undersides of the tips of the antennae are yellow orange, distinguishing itself from the very similar Essex skipper where they are black.

Essex Skipper

Thymelicus lineola

Family: Hesperiidae (skipper)

Habitat: Grassland.

Size: 14 mm. Wingspan 2.5 to 2.9 cm.

Food: Cock's-foot, creeping soft grass, couch grass, timothy-grass, meadow foxtail, false brome and tor-grass.

Flight: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Not Evaluated

Almost identical to the small skipper but has black-tipped antennae. The caterpillar is green, with yellow incisions between its rings.

Large Skipper

Ochlodes sylvanus

Family: Hesperiidae (skipper)

Habitat: Grassland, hedgerows, woodland clearings and edges.

Size: Length 16 mm.

Food: Cocksfoot mainly but also purple moor-grass, false brome, tor-grass and wood small-reed. Adult - bramble flowers.

Flight: Early May to late September.

The hook-shaped antenna tips distinguish it from other skippers.

On hatching the larvae constructs a shelter by curling a leaf up with silk and begins to feed.

Large White

Pieris brassicae

Family: Pieridae (Yellows-and-Whites)

Habitat: Farmland, gardens and parks and meadows.

Size: 32 mm.

Food: Adults - brassicas, radishes. Larvae - buddleia or thistles.

Flight: Early April to late October. April to October.

Migration is atypical, they fly towards the poles in the spring, and towards the equator in the autumn. Migratory paths are over 800 kilometres but individual butterflies may not cover the entire path.

Caterpillars eat plants which make them distasteful to predators.

Small White

Pieris rapae

Family: Pieridae (Yellows-and-Whites)

Habitat: Open areas and flowery places.

Food: Cultivated and wild brassicas.

Flight: Early March to late October.

Also called the small cabbage white as its green larvae feed on cabbages.

Green-veined White

Pieris napi

Family: Pieridae (Yellows-and-Whites)

Habitat: Flowery meadows, gardens and hedgerows. Damp grassy areas.

Size: Length 25 mm (1 in).

Food: Wild brassicas such as watercress.

Flight: Early March to late October.

The underside hind wings have veins with a greenish tint, hence the name green-veined white.

Small Copper

Lycaena phlaeas

Family: Lycaenidae (Blue)

Habitat: Grassland, heathland, woodland and lowland calcareous grassland.

Size: Length 14 mm (0.6 in).

Food: Sorrels and docks.

Flight: Early February to late November. In two or three broods.

A very active little butterfly that moves from plant to plant feeding and occasionally basking in the sunlight. Males are very territorial.

Brown Argus

Aricia agestis

Family: Lycaenidae (Blue)

Habitat: Grasslands, heathlands, woodland and lowland calcareous grassland.

Size: 14 mm (0.6 in).

Food: CommonRock-rose (Helianthemum nummularium), Dove's-foot Cranesbill(Geranium molle) and Common Stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium).

Flight: Early May to late September.

Both male and female are brown in colour.

Common Blue

Polyommatus icarus

Family: Lycaenidae (Blue)

Habitat: Farmland, gardens and parks, grassland, heathland, meadows and orchards.

Size: Length 17 mm (0.7 in). Wingspan 29-36 mm (1.1-1.4 in).

Food: Common bird's-foot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) and other legumes.

Flight: Early April to late October.

Females are dark brown with bright orange spots near the wing tips. Both male and female have black and white borders.

Chalkhill Blue

Polyommatus coridon

Family: Lycaenidae (Blue)

Habitat: Lowland calcareous grassland.

Size: Length 18 mm (0.7 in). Wingspan 33-40 mm (1.3- 1.6 in).

Food: Horseshoe Vetch (Hippocrepis comosa).

Flight: Early July to late September.

Females are dark brown. Both male and female have black and white borders.

Red Admiral

Vanessa atalanta

Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed)

Habitat: Gardens and parks, meadows, coastal and sea cliffs.

Size: Length 30 mm (1.2 in.) Wingspan ♀ 70-78 mm (2.8-3.1 In.). ♂ 64-72 mm (2.5-2.8 In.)

Food: Stinging nettle and ivy.

Flight: Early May to late October.

Both a resident and a migrant butterfly.

Painted Lady

Vanessa cardui

Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed)

Habitat: Gardens and parks and meadows.

Size: Length 30 mm.

Food: Stinging nettle.

Flight: Early April to late October. April till October.

A fast flying butterfly that has a spectacular migration from Africa to Europe each spring, flying at altitudes of up to 3,000 feet, and speeds of up to 30 mph.

Small Tortoiseshell

Aglais urticae

Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed)

Habitat: Gardens and parks, meadows, arable field margins and hedgerows.

Size: Length 25 mm (1 in). Wingspan ♂ 45-55 mm, ♀ 52-62 mm.

Food: Adult: Nectar. Caterpillar: Stinging nettle.

Flight: Early March to late October.

One of the earliest butterflies to appear in spring after winter hibernation.

Comma

Polygonia c-album

Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed)

Habitat: Woodland, gardens and parks and hedgerows.

Size: Length 24 mm. Wingspan 50-64 mm.

Food: Hops, stinging nettle and elm.

Flight: Early April to late September.

The comma is given its name by a white comma shaped mark on the underside of its hind wing.

Wall Brown

Lasiommata megera

Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed)

Habitat: Coastal, grasslands, hedgerows, scrub and woodland clearings and edges.

Size: Wingspan 45-53 mm (1.8-2.1 in)

Food: Various grasses.

Flight: Early March to late October. March to October.

The wall brown is named after its habit of resting with wings two-thirds open on walls (and other surfaces). Basking like this raises its body temperature sufficiently high for it to fly.

Marbled White

Melanargia galathea

Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed)

Habitat: Grasslands, woodland and arable field margins.

Size: Length 22-28 mm (0.9-1.1 in).

Food: Grasses (larva). Thistles, Knapweeds, Clovers, Marjoram, Thyme and Yarrow (adult).

Flight: Early June to late August.

Winter is passed as a small lime-green caterpillar.

Gatekeeper

Pyronia tithonus

Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed)

Habitat: Arable field margins, hedgerows, scrub and woodland clearings and edges.

Size: Length 19 mm (0.7 In).

Food: Grasses.

Flight: Early July to late September.

Also known as the hedge brown, it is often found near country gates and styles, hence the name.

Meadow Brown

Maniola jurtina

Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed)

Habitat: Grasslands, meadows, woodland, arable field margins and hedgerows.

Size: Length 25 mm (1 in).

Food: Grasses (larva). Thistles, Blackberries, Daisies, Cow Parsip, etc (adult).

Flight: Early May to late September.

Males are less colourful and more active and range furtherthan the females. Winter passed as a small bright green caterpillar.

Small Heath

Coenonympha pamphilus

Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed)

Habitat: Grasslands, heathlands, meadows and steppes.

Size: Length 14-20 mm (0.6-0.8 In).

Food: Grasses notably sheep's fescue and rough meadow grass (Poa trivialis).

Flight: Early April to late October. April to October.

The caterpillar is of a clear green colour.

Monarch

Danaus plexippus

Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed)

Habitat: Rivers and streams.

Size: Wingspan 8.9-10.2 cm (3.5-4.0 in).

Food: Adult: Nectar. Larval: milkweeds, crown flower and white vine.

Flight: Early June to late October.

Monarchs defend themselves against predicators by feeding on milkweed as caterpillars and ingesting cardenolide aglycones which are both foul-tasting and poisonous.