Meadow Brown Butterfly Maniola jurtina

Meadow Brown Butterfly male top
Meadow Brown Butterfly
The male Meadow Brown butterfly is mainly brown on the top with a hint of orange and a small black eyespot on each forewing.
Ringlet or Meadow Brown Butterfly male
It can be similar to a Ringlet from above.
Meadow Brown Butterfly female
Meadow Brown Butterfly female
Meadow Brown Butterfly
The female Meadow Brown is lighter, brighter than the male, with more orange on the wings and larger eyespots with a larger white "pupil". It can be similar to a Gatekeeper from above, but, unlike the Gatekeeper, the Meadow Brown almost always has only one white "pupil" in the eyespot.
Meadow Brown Butterfly side
Meadow Brown Butterfly side
Meadow Brown Butterfly
From the side, if it has spots on the lower wing, they are always black (and the Gatekeeper always white spots).
Meadow Brown Butterfly side
Meadow Brown Butterfly
Meadow Brown Butterfly side
However, rarely, some Meadow Browns have two white "pupils" in their eyespot (but any other small spots are black).
Meadow Brown Butterflies pair
Meadow Brown Butterflies pair
Meadow Brown Butterflies males
This female, top on above left/centre, prefers to finish her drink despite the male's attentions. Above right, two males.
Meadow Brown Butterflies pair
Meadow Brown Butterflies pair
Meadow Brown Butterflies males
The Meadow Brown is common over most of Europe, western Asia and North Africa.
Meadow Brown Butterflies coupled
Meadow Brown Butterflies coupled
Meadow Brown pair, female top and male below, Totteridge Fields, NW London.