48 Common Brown Butterflies in The U.S. (with Pictures)

Brown butterflies are a common sight across the diverse habitats of the United States. While most people associate butterflies with bright and vivid colors, there are actually many species that feature different shades of brown as their predominant hue.

These brown-colored butterflies play important roles in ecosystems by pollinating flowers, serving as food for birds and other wildlife, and indicating the overall health of habitats. Their brown coloring also provides camouflage from predators when at rest on trees or soil.

This article provides an overview of 48 of the most frequently encountered brown butterfly species found in the U.S., along with photos for easy identification.

Why Are Some Butterflies Brown?

There are a few key reasons why certain butterflies feature brown coloring:

• Camouflage – Brown shades help butterflies blend in against soil, bark, and dead leaves while at rest, avoiding detection from predators

• Thermoregulation – Darker brown colors absorb heat more efficiently, helping butterflies stay warm in cooler conditions.

• Mimicry – Some species mimic dead leaves and twigs making them appear unappetizing to predators.

• Geography – Butterflies in drier, open habitats often evolve brown hues to match their surroundings.

• Gender Differences – In some species, females are brown while males feature brighter colors to attract mates.

Unique Features of Brown Butterflies

While brown in color, these butterflies still exhibit unique identifying features including:

• Distinct patterns of eyespots, bands, stripes, and checkerboards in darker or lighter shades.

• Bright pops of color along wing borders, on antennae, or on undersides of wings.

• Different shades of light, medium, and dark brown in mosaic-like designs.

• Iridescent sheens of copper, orange, or blue across their brown wings.

• Contrasting light-colored veins against darker brown backgrounds.

• Tails, hairy bodies, or scalloped wing shapes.

48 Common Brown Butterfly Species in the U.S.

Below are 48 brown butterflies found across the United States along with notes on their key identification features:

1. Common Buckeye – two large and two small eyespots per wing with light brown bands.

2. Fiery Skipper – solid brown wings on females, brighter yellow-orange on males.

3. Silver-spotted Skipper – dark brown with distinct white spots on wings.

4. Zabulon Skipper – light brown interior and dark margins on wings.

5. Hackberry Emperor – light brown with white dots and lacks bright colors.

6. Horace’s Duskywing – dark brown forewings with white-bordered black margins.

7. Clouded Skipper – dark brown upperwings and light brown hindwings.

8. Question Mark – brown underside resembles a dead leaf, distinct ?-shaped marking.

9. Gray Buckeye – resembles Common Buckeye, but found out west.

10. Tawny Emperor – orange-brown upperwings, leaf-like brown underside.

11. Little Wood Satyr – several shades of brown in wave-like pattern.

12. Dun Skipper – male is gray-brown with faint white spots on wings.

13. Northern Pearly-Eye – rich brown with contrasting white margins.

14. Umber Skipper – light brown wings with yellow bands and black margins.

15. Juvenal’s Duskywing – dark brown with small yellow dots on forewings.

16. Wild Indigo Duskywing – wings are brown/black with tan patterns.

17. Goatweed Leafwing – bright orange upperwings, leaf-veined brown underside.

18. Empress Leilia – brown wings with bold yellow and white dots.

19. Brown Elfin – small with entirely dark brown underside.

20. Fatal Metalmark – ragged brown wings with faint orange patches.

21. Eastern Pine Elfin – gray-brown with bold white stripe markings.

22. Sickle-winged Skipper – very dark brown/black forewings on males.

23. Brown Longtail – long twin tails, dark brown wings and body.

24. Southern Cloudywing – pointed brown wings with gray-silver spots.

25. Harvester – highly unique carnivore species, brown with orange spots.

26. Eyed Brown – golden brown upperwings with distinctive eye spots.

27. Southern Pearly-Eye – very large, pearly brown with faint patterns.

28. Striped Hairstreak – pale grayish-brown with thin white lines.

29. Mangrove Buckeye – orange marks on brown wings with eyespots.

30. Rounded Metalmark – uniform dark brown upperwings and underside.

31. Little Metalmark – intricate web of black lines across brown wings.

32. Gorgon Copper – metallic brown with extensive black borders.

33. Tailed Copper – bright orange patches on brown wings.

34. Scalloped Metalmark – scalloped brown wings with orange edges.

35. Crossline Skipper – wingtips dipped in yellow, otherwise gray-brown.

36. Common Alpine – nearly black forewings with small gray-brown spots.

37. Texas Powdered Skipper – dusty brown with large white spots on wings.

38. Thicket Hairstreak – pale gray-brown with faint striping pattern.

39. Common Streaky Skipper – brown pattern that resembles an owl face.

40. Arizona Powdered Skipper – gray-brown with patches of white scales.

41. Dull Firetip – light brown with bold black wing borders.

42. Northern Metalmark – metallic brown with white dots on forewings.

43. Band-celled Sister – dark velvety brown with thin white bands.

44. Twintip Buckeye – prominent eyespots in black, orange, and blue.

45. Brown-banded Skipper – pale brown wings with two distinct darker stripes.

46. Wright’s Metalmark – dark brown with white edges and black markings.

47. Swamp Metalmark – resembles Wright’s but with more white markings.

48. Dark Buckeye – very dark brown/black forewings, light brown hindwings.

This guide covers the many shades of beautiful brown butterflies found across the diverse regions of the United States. Watch for their unique identifying traits as they flutter by! Brown butterflies play vital ecological roles, while adding their own subtle beauty to backyards and gardens where they are found.