This is the commonest large Brown butterfly in Britain. The male's upperwings are dusky brown with a blurred black patch from the central forewing to the body. In the corner of each forewing is one small white-pupilled black eyespot, usually surrounded by a circle of dull orange. There may also be a faint orange patch below this. This orange patch and the eyespot are both much larger and more prominent on the female. The Meadow Brown often sits with its wings closed, and the lower hindwing may be all that is visible. This is grey-brown with a slight orange sheen and a zig-zag boundary that divides a darker inner half from a brighter outer half. There may be one or several small black dots in the outer half. When exposed, the lower forewing is seen as a dull orange with a dusky border and a similar eyespot to that on the upperwing.

Both sexes become very faded when old. Depending on their age, several Browns look rather like the Meadow Brown in flight, but none should be confused when seen at rest. Note the lack of eyespots on the upper hindwing and compare with the Ringlet and Gatekeeper.

Dimensions:
Adult wingspan: 40-60mm.

National:
This is one of Britain's most widespread and common butterflies. It can be found in large numbers in nearly all grassland habitats.

At Durlston:
It is a common butterfly throughout much of the Park. Numbers have steadily increased in recent years and this may be a response to the increase in available foodplants.

The eggs are laid on various species of grass. The larvae may feed throughout the winter if temperatures allow but normally it enters hibernation. It then fully develops the following spring and pupates close or at ground level. The adults emerge from early June, occasionally earlier, and are active to late October.