Skippers are a fascinating group of butterflies in the family Hesperiidae, named for their rapid, darting flight patterns. Though smaller and less colorful than many butterflies, they play an important role in pollination and are widely observed in fields, meadows, gardens, and woodlands. In this guide, we’ll look at 15 common types of skippers, highlighting their unique features, behaviors, and habitats that make them an essential part of the butterfly world.
1. Silver-spotted Skipper
The Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) is one of the most recognizable and widespread skippers in North America. Known for the distinctive white or silvery spot on its hindwings, this butterfly is active, fast-flying, and often seen darting around gardens, meadows, and woodland edges.
Identification
- Medium-sized skipper (wingspan 1.75–2.5 inches)
- Brownish forewings with orange-gold patches
- Hindwings marked with a large, distinct silvery-white spot
- Stout body with hooked antennae typical of skippers
- Rapid, darting flight behavior
Characteristics
Silver-spotted Skippers are hardy and adaptable butterflies. They are nectar-lovers, frequently visiting flowers such as red clover, milkweed, and thistles. Their large size and bold wing markings make them easier to identify than many other skippers.
Behavior
They are active and territorial, often perching on leaves and returning to the same spot after quick flights. Males typically defend territories and seek mates in sunny areas. Caterpillars roll leaves to create shelters, where they rest and feed.
Habitat and Range
This skipper is widespread across North America, found in gardens, roadsides, meadows, fields, and forest edges. It prefers sunny, open areas with abundant flowering plants and larval host plants like legumes.
2. Long-tailed Skipper
The Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus) is an attractive skipper butterfly easily recognized by its elongated tails and shimmering bluish-green body. Found primarily in the Americas, it is both a common garden visitor and an agricultural pest due to its caterpillars feeding on legumes.
Identification
- Medium-sized skipper (wingspan 1.5–2 inches)
- Distinct long tails extending from the hindwings
- Brown forewings with irregular transparent spots
- Iridescent bluish-green scaling on the thorax and body
- Caterpillars are known as “bean rollers,” creating leaf shelters
Characteristics
Long-tailed Skippers are active and resilient butterflies. Their tails and shimmering body colors make them one of the more striking skipper species. Adults are strong fliers, commonly feeding on nectar from lantana, bougainvillea, and other flowering plants.
Behavior
They exhibit quick, darting flight patterns and often visit sunny gardens and fields. Caterpillars roll legume leaves (such as beans, peas, and wisteria) to feed and hide, which can cause noticeable agricultural damage. Adults are non-aggressive and focus on feeding and reproduction.
Habitat and Range
The Long-tailed Skipper ranges from the southern United States through Central America and into South America. It thrives in gardens, fields, forest edges, and agricultural areas, especially where host plants are abundant.
3. Fiery Skipper
The Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus) is a small, brightly colored skipper butterfly often seen flitting around lawns, gardens, and open fields. Its vivid orange wings and darting flight make it one of the most noticeable skippers in North America.
Identification
- Small size (wingspan 1–1.5 inches)
- Males: bright orange with black borders and spots on forewings
- Females: duller orange-brown with darker markings
- Compact body with short antennae ending in hooked clubs
- Caterpillars are greenish with dark heads
Characteristics
Fiery Skippers are highly active and visually striking butterflies. The sexual dimorphism between males and females makes identification interesting, with males being much brighter. They are prolific nectar feeders and important pollinators in gardens and wildflower areas.
Behavior
These butterflies are fast fliers with a darting, erratic flight style. They prefer sunny open spaces and frequently visit flowers such as lantana, verbena, and marigolds. Caterpillars often feed on grasses, including Bermuda grass, making them common in urban and suburban settings.
Habitat and Range
The Fiery Skipper is widespread across the southern United States, Central America, and South America. In summer, they extend their range northward. They thrive in gardens, meadows, lawns, and roadside habitats where nectar plants and host grasses are abundant.
4. Peck’s Skipper
Peck’s Skipper (Polites peckius) is a small, widespread skipper butterfly commonly found in grassy areas, gardens, and meadows. Though less flashy than some other skippers, it is one of the most frequently observed species in North America due to its abundance and adaptability.
Identification
- Small size (wingspan 1–1.25 inches)
- Forewings dark brown with orange patches and spots
- Hindwings yellow-orange with dark brown borders
- Stout body with short, hooked antennae typical of skippers
- Caterpillars green with dark heads, feeding mainly on grasses
Characteristics
Peck’s Skippers are energetic, hardy, and easily recognized by their warm brown-and-orange wing patterns. They are generalist nectar feeders, visiting a wide range of flowers, and are often among the first skippers spotted in summer fields.
Behavior
They display fast, erratic flight patterns and often perch on grass stems or flower heads. Males are territorial, defending sunny spots from rivals, while females search actively for host grasses on which to lay eggs.
Habitat and Range
Peck’s Skipper is widespread across North America, from southern Canada through most of the United States. It thrives in sunny meadows, lawns, prairies, and roadside fields, where host grasses and nectar plants are plentiful.
5. Sachem Skipper
The Sachem Skipper (Atalopedes campestris) is one of the most common and easily recognized skippers across the United States. With its bright orange wings and quick, darting flight, it is a frequent visitor to lawns, gardens, and open grassy areas.
Identification
- Small to medium size (wingspan 1–1.5 inches)
- Males: bright orange with bold black borders on forewings
- Females: darker brown with lighter orange patches and spots
- Hindwings have a square dark patch in males, while females have more mottling
- Caterpillars greenish with dark heads, feeding primarily on grasses like Bermuda grass
Characteristics
Sachem Skippers are lively, adaptable, and widespread. Their strong contrast between male and female wing patterns makes them one of the easier skippers to identify. They are prolific nectar feeders and can be seen throughout summer and fall.
Behavior
They are fast fliers with darting, hovering movements around flowers. Males are highly territorial, often perching on grass stems or low plants to defend their space. Females are more secretive, spending time searching for suitable host grasses for egg-laying.
Habitat and Range
The Sachem Skipper is found throughout most of the United States, extending into Mexico and Central America. It thrives in urban lawns, roadsides, meadows, and gardens where nectar flowers and grasses are abundant.
6. Zabulon Skipper
The Zabulon Skipper (Poanes zabulon) is a colorful and distinctive skipper butterfly, often found in gardens, woodland edges, and meadows. With its striking sexual dimorphism and quick, darting flight, it is one of the more recognizable skippers in eastern North America.
Identification
- Small to medium size (wingspan 1–1.5 inches)
- Males: bright yellow-orange with dark brown borders and markings
- Females: darker brown with pale yellow spots on forewings and hindwings
- Both sexes have hooked antennae typical of skippers
- Caterpillars feed mainly on grasses such as orchard grass and panic grasses
Characteristics
Zabulon Skippers are energetic, adaptable, and visually striking. Their males and females look quite different, making them an interesting species for butterfly watchers. They are regular nectar feeders, often seen visiting clover, milkweed, and thistle flowers.
Behavior
They exhibit rapid, darting flight patterns and often rest on low vegetation between feeding bouts. Males are territorial, typically perching in sunny spots to watch for females, while females move more discreetly through host grasses.
Habitat and Range
The Zabulon Skipper is common in the eastern United States, ranging from New England through the Midwest and south into Texas and Florida. It inhabits sunny woodland edges, meadows, gardens, and roadsides where nectar flowers and host grasses are plentiful.
7. Clouded Skipper
The Clouded Skipper (Lerema accius) is a small, dark skipper butterfly commonly found in the southeastern United States. Its soft brown coloring and quick flight make it less conspicuous than some of the brighter skippers, but it is a frequent visitor to gardens and meadows.
Identification
- Small size (wingspan 1–1.5 inches)
- Dark brown forewings with lighter translucent spots
- Hindwings are chocolate-brown with a slight purplish sheen
- Compact body with hooked antennae typical of skippers
- Caterpillars are green with brown heads, feeding mainly on grasses like St. Augustine and Bermuda
Characteristics
Clouded Skippers are modest in appearance but important as pollinators. They are active throughout the warmer months and can be seen darting around low flowers. Their subtle wing pattern and dusky coloring help them blend into grassy habitats.
Behavior
They are fast and erratic fliers, often staying close to the ground. Males perch in sunny openings to watch for females, while females spend more time seeking nectar or laying eggs. They frequently visit flowers such as lantana, thistles, and shepherd’s needle.
Habitat and Range
The Clouded Skipper is most common in the southeastern United States, ranging from Virginia through Florida and west into Texas, also extending into Mexico and Central America. It thrives in fields, meadows, gardens, roadsides, and other grassy habitats.
8. Dun Skipper
The Dun Skipper (Euphyes vestris) is a small, plain skipper butterfly that may not be as brightly patterned as some of its relatives, but it is widespread and frequently encountered in meadows, wetlands, and along woodland edges. Its subtle brown coloring makes it a quiet but important member of the skipper family.
Identification
- Small size (wingspan 1–1.25 inches)
- Uniform dark brown wings with little to no distinctive markings
- Hindwings may show faint lighter shading
- Compact body with hooked antennae typical of skippers
- Caterpillars green with dark heads, feeding mostly on sedges and grasses
Characteristics
Dun Skippers are modest in appearance but valued for their role as pollinators. Their plain brown wings help them blend into vegetation, making them less noticeable compared to brighter skipper species.
Behavior
They are quick, low fliers, often staying close to wet meadows or grassy habitats. Males perch on low plants to watch for females, while females search quietly for host plants to lay eggs. Adults frequently nectar on flowers such as milkweed, thistle, and dogbane.
Habitat and Range
The Dun Skipper is common across much of North America, from southern Canada through the United States. It thrives in wetlands, moist meadows, prairies, and woodland edges, especially where sedges are abundant.
9. Crossline Skipper
The Crossline Skipper (Polites origenes) is a small, grass-feeding skipper butterfly that can be tricky to distinguish from its close relatives. It is commonly seen in sunny meadows, fields, and along roadsides during summer months.
Identification
- Small size (wingspan 1–1.25 inches)
- Forewings orange with dark brown borders and markings
- Hindwings orange-brown with faint crosslines (hence the name)
- Males have a distinct dark stigma (scent brand) on the forewing
- Caterpillars feed on grasses such as panic grasses and bluegrasses
Characteristics
Crossline Skippers are lively and energetic, with coloration that blends well into grassy habitats. Though similar to Peck’s Skipper and Tawny-edged Skipper, careful observation of wing markings helps distinguish them.
Behavior
They are fast, darting fliers that often perch on grasses or flower heads. Males defend small territories, waiting for females, while females quietly move through host plants to lay eggs. Adults commonly nectar on flowers like milkweed, clover, and thistle.
Habitat and Range
This skipper is found throughout much of eastern and central North America. It inhabits meadows, prairies, fields, and roadside grasslands where host grasses and nectar flowers are plentiful.
10. Tawny-edged Skipper
The Tawny-edged Skipper (Polites themistocles) is a small, widespread skipper butterfly often seen in grassy meadows, woodland edges, and open fields. Its distinguishing feature is the warm orange patch along the leading edge of its forewings.
Identification
- Small size (wingspan 1–1.25 inches)
- Forewings brown with a distinct tawny-orange edge and orange spots
- Hindwings brown with pale central patches, sometimes faintly marked
- Males show a narrow dark stigma (scent brand) on the forewing
- Caterpillars feed on grasses such as panic grass, bluegrass, and crabgrass
Characteristics
Tawny-edged Skippers are energetic, adaptable, and easy to recognize compared to some of their close relatives. The bright tawny edging on the forewing gives them their name and helps separate them from other small grass skippers.
Behavior
They are fast and active fliers, often perching on grasses or flowers in sunny openings. Males establish small territories to wait for females, while females move quietly through host grasses for egg-laying. Adults feed on nectar from clover, milkweed, and asters.
Habitat and Range
This skipper is common throughout eastern and central North America. It inhabits meadows, roadsides, pastures, and woodland edges, thriving in places with plenty of grasses and nectar-rich flowers.
11. Little Glassywing Skipper
The Little Glassywing (Pompeius verna) is a small, dark skipper butterfly named for its translucent wing spots that give a glassy appearance. Though subtle in coloring, it is widespread and commonly found in open fields, meadows, and along woodland edges during summer.
Identification
- Small size (wingspan 1–1.25 inches)
- Dark brown wings with translucent white or pale spots on the forewings
- Hindwings uniformly dark with faint markings
- Stout body with hooked antennae typical of skippers
- Caterpillars feed mainly on grasses, especially panic grasses
Characteristics
Little Glassywings are modest but distinctive thanks to their translucent forewing spots. They are not as brightly colored as some skippers, but their glassy markings help in identification. They are frequent nectar feeders, especially in sunny areas.
Behavior
They have a low, quick, and darting flight style. Males perch in sunny clearings or meadow edges to defend territories, while females move more discreetly through grasses searching for host plants. Adults commonly nectar at milkweed, thistles, and clovers.
Habitat and Range
The Little Glassywing is found across much of eastern and central North America. It thrives in open grassy habitats such as meadows, roadsides, and woodland edges where both nectar flowers and grasses are abundant.
12. Delaware Skipper
The Delaware Skipper (Anatrytone logan) is a bright orange skipper butterfly often seen in prairies, meadows, and along sunny roadsides. Its vivid coloration and smooth wing patterns make it one of the more eye-catching grass skippers in North America.
Identification
- Medium size (wingspan 1.25–1.75 inches)
- Bright orange wings with thin dark borders
- Forewings mostly unmarked except for small faint spots
- Hindwings plain orange above, with paler shading below
- Caterpillars feed primarily on grasses, especially big bluestem and switchgrass
Characteristics
Delaware Skippers are bold, active butterflies with a striking golden-orange appearance. Their uniform coloring and clean wing patterns distinguish them from many other small, patterned skippers. They are frequent nectar feeders and important pollinators in grassland ecosystems.
Behavior
They are energetic, with a fast but graceful flight style. Males perch low in sunny grasslands to watch for females, while females focus on host plants for egg-laying. Adults frequently nectar at blazing stars, milkweed, and coneflowers.
Habitat and Range
The Delaware Skipper is widespread across eastern and central North America, from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. It thrives in tallgrass prairies, meadows, wetlands, and open fields where host grasses and nectar sources are abundant.
13. Leonard’s Skipper
Leonard’s Skipper (Hesperia leonardus) is a late-season skipper butterfly, often seen in meadows and prairies during late summer and early fall. Its bold orange-and-brown coloration makes it a striking species among the grass skippers.
Identification
- Medium size (wingspan 1.25–1.75 inches)
- Bright orange forewings with bold dark brown borders and spots
- Hindwings brown with a wide orange patch in males; more mottled in females
- Underside of hindwings often reddish-brown with pale spots
- Caterpillars feed on various grasses, including little bluestem and switchgrass
Characteristics
Leonard’s Skippers are vibrant and strong fliers, making them one of the more colorful and noticeable skippers. Their reddish underside helps distinguish them from other closely related grass skippers.
Behavior
They are fast and energetic, often flying low among grasses and flowers. Leonard’s Skippers are most active in sunny weather and frequently nectar on late-blooming flowers such as goldenrods, asters, and blazing stars.
Habitat and Range
This species is found in eastern and central North America, from southern Canada through much of the United States. Leonard’s Skippers thrive in open prairies, fields, meadows, and roadside grasslands, especially in areas with tall grasses and abundant late-season nectar sources.
14. Southern Broken-Dash
The Southern Broken-Dash (Wallengrenia otho) is a small, grass-feeding skipper butterfly most commonly seen in the southeastern United States. Its subtle orange and brown patterning can make it difficult to distinguish from other skippers, but its behavior and range help identify it.
Identification
- Small size (wingspan 1–1.25 inches)
- Forewings brown with orange central patches and pale spots
- Hindwings dark brown with faint orange scaling
- Males show a short, broken dark stigma on the forewing (inspiring the name)
- Caterpillars feed primarily on grasses such as Bermuda grass and panic grasses
Characteristics
Southern Broken-Dashes are modest in appearance but active in grassy habitats. Their combination of orange and brown markings is typical of many skippers, but the broken stigma line on males is a key identifying feature.
Behavior
They fly quickly and close to the ground, often perching on low grasses or flowers. Males patrol sunny areas for females, while females move more subtly through grasses to lay eggs. Adults are frequent nectar feeders, visiting clovers, dogbane, and milkweeds.
Habitat and Range
This species is found mostly in the southeastern and south-central United States, extending into Central America and the Caribbean. It thrives in fields, roadsides, pastures, and other grassy habitats where nectar sources are abundant.
15. Northern Broken-Dash
The Northern Broken-Dash (Wallengrenia egeremet) is a small skipper butterfly closely related to the Southern Broken-Dash. It is found primarily in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada, where it frequents grassy meadows, fields, and woodland edges.
Identification
- Small size (wingspan 1–1.25 inches)
- Forewings dark brown with orange patches and small pale spots
- Hindwings dark brown, sometimes with faint orange shading
- Males have a short, broken stigma line on the forewing, similar to the Southern species
- Caterpillars feed on various grasses, including panic grass and Bermuda grass
Characteristics
Northern Broken-Dashes are modest and somewhat difficult to distinguish from other small skippers. They share many similarities with the Southern Broken-Dash, but their range and subtle wing patterns set them apart.
Behavior
They are fast-flying butterflies that stay close to the ground in sunny, grassy habitats. Males are territorial, perching on grass stems or low plants to wait for females. Adults feed on nectar from flowers such as clover, dogbane, milkweed, and asters.
Habitat and Range
This species is found in the northeastern and midwestern United States and southeastern Canada. It thrives in meadows, fields, pastures, and open woodland edges, especially in areas with tall grasses and abundant nectar sources.
