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The markings on the wings are the main way to tell different species apart but between some it is very difficult to be absolutely sure. Some blues look very similar. The Essex Skipper and the Small Skipper are so alike that the best distinguishing feature to look for is that the underside of the antennae are black in the Essex Skipper! Identification then for some species is likely to prove a challenge of observation over patience!
| Vanessids | Large, usually bright coloured above and drab below. Examples include Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral and Comma |  |
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| Skippers | Small, named after their skipping, dancing flight. Some species hold their wings in a characteristic dart shape |  |
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| Whites | Predominantly white butterflies, with some black on the wings. The Orange Tip male has orange wingtips, the female black. |  |
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| Blues | Generally quite small and brightly coloured, males being blue and females being dull blue or brown |  |
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| Browns | Medium sized butterflies, generally brown in colour. Most species having a characteristic black and white 'eye' |  |
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| Hairstreaks | Small-medium butterflies, with short tails on the hind wings and a thin white streak on the underwing. |  |
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Luckily there are only about fifteen species which are commonly encountered around schools and they are fairly easily told apart. Go to the identification sheet of these species.
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