The Rowley Hills are outstanding for their many species of butterflies and moths. Small Skipper, Essex Skipper, Large Skipper, Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Orange-tip, Green Hairstreak, Small Copper, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma, Dark Green Fritillary (2 only), Speckled Wood, Marbled White, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Ringlet and Small Heath have all been recorded here.  

Additionally, a number of day-flying moths are regularly seen; Mother Shipton, Burnet Companion, Cinnabar, Latticed Heath, Cinnabar, Shaded Broad-bar, Six-spot Burnet, Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet, Small Yellow-underwing, Chimney Sweeper, Six-belted Clearwing, Silver Y and Small Magpie. There are also several smaller day-flying micro-moths which have yet to be identified.

Focus on the Marbled White butterfly

The Rowley Hills are particularly notable for being the site of one of the very few colonies in Birmingham and the Black Country of Marbled White (Melanargia galathea) butterflies. Predominantly this is a butterfly of southern Britain which in recent years has spread northwards and eastwards, and at some sites has been successfully introduced. Largely sedentary butterflies, not straying far, they are typically found in well-established, flowery grassland habitats, where females flutter among grassy vegetation randomly dropping or depositing eggs on to various grasses upon which the caterpillars feed.

The best time to visit the Rowley Hills to see Marbled Whites is in late June/early July; on a warm sunny day at this time it is possible to see large numbers of these beautiful butterflies fluttering through the grass!

It is vital that the Rowley Hills are protected in order to secure the long-term future of this thriving butterfly colony; visit the How you can help page to see how you can support us.

Butterfly & moth gallery

A selection of photos showing all butterfly and day-flying moth species that have been recorded in the Rowley Hills so far. Click any image to enlarge.

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) (image © Mike Poulton)

Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) (image © Mike Poulton)

Peacock (Inachis io) (image © Mike Poulton)

Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi) (image © Mike Poulton)

Green-veined White (Pieris napi) (image © Mike Poulton)

Silver Y (Autographa gamma) (image © Mike Poulton)

Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) (image © Mike Poulton)

Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus) (image © Jane Tavener)

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) (image © Mike Poulton)

Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) (image © Mike Poulton)

Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus) (image © Mike Poulton)

Burnet Companion (Euclidia glyphica) (image © Mike Poulton)

Marbled White (Melanargia galanthea) (image © Mike Poulton)

Large White (Pieris brassicae) (image © Mike Poulton)

Mother Shipton (Callistege mi) (image © Mike Poulton)

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) (image © Mike Poulton)

Comma (Polygonia c-album) (image © Mike Poulton)

Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) (image © Mike Poulton)

Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) (image © Mike Poulton)

Six-spot Burnet (Zygaena filipendulae) (image © Mike Poulton)

Small/Essex Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris/lineola) (image © Mike Poulton)

Latticed Heath (Chiasmia clathrata) (image © Mike Poulton)

Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus) (image © Mike Poulton)

Cinnabar (Tyria jacobaeae) (image © Mike Poulton)

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) (image © Mike Poulton)

Small White (Pieris rapae) (image © Mike Poulton)

Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines) (image © Mike Poulton)

White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda) (image © Mike Poulton)