Meadow brown

Maniola jurtina
Meadow brown
Photo: Andreas Eichler, CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons
Meadow brown
Photo: Böhringer Friedrich, CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons
Meadow brown
Photo: Feel free to use my photos, but please mention me as the author and if you want send me a message. o, CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons

About

The Meadow brown is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of 4–5 cm. The wings are brown; near the tip of the forewing, there is a black 'eye' with one white spot. The female has a large orange spot around the eye, making her more vibrant. The male is darker, almost monochromatic. The underside of the hindwings is grayish-brown, with a lighter band — when the butterfly's wings are closed, it blends well with dry grass.

It flies from June to September, with one extended generation. Its flight is low, almost bouncing, just above the grass. Butterflies are active even in gloomy weather when other diurnal species hide. They feed on the nectar of thistles, cornflowers, motherwort, thyme, and blackberries.

In the Carpathians, the Meadow brown is common in meadows, pastures, forest edges, clearings, and roadsides from the foothills to mountain meadows. It is most abundant in unmown and late-mown meadows.

The caterpillars are green, with short hairs, feeding on various grasses and overwintering in the grass. The species depends on traditional haymaking: where meadows become overgrown with forest or are plowed, the number of butterflies decreases.

Similar brown butterflies with 'eyes' include the Gatekeeper, the Mountain ringlet, and the Flowering Meadow brown. The Gatekeeper has smaller and redder wings, the Mountain ringlet has a reddish band with several eyes on its wings, while the Flowering Meadow brown has a row of eyes with yellow rings visible on the underside.

Where in the Carpathians

approximate rangerecords:fewermore1 182 records in the Carpathians

Teal — roughly where the species can occur, by elevation and habitat; orange — where naturalists recorded it (GBIF, CC0/CC BY).

Range: elevation belt and the countries where it is known — our model (AWS Terrain Tiles)

Countries
Ukraine · Hungary · Romania · Slovakia · Austria · Czechia · Poland · Serbia
Mountain ranges
nearly all Carpathian ranges, within its elevation belt
Altitude belts
Foothills (below 600 m) · Beech forests (600–1200 m)

When to see it

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Sightings

From naturalists’ observations in the Carpathians (iNaturalist, research grade): the darker the cell, the more often the species is seen that month.

Protection and rules

Not listed in the Red Book of Ukraine.

FAQ

When does the Meadow brown fly?

From June to September. The highest number of butterflies is in July and August on blooming meadows.

How can you distinguish the male Meadow brown from the female?

The female has a large orange spot around the 'eye' on the forewing. The male is dark brown, almost without orange.

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Similar species

European peacockEuropean peacockAglais ioA bright butterfly with four 'eyes' on its wings. It hibernates as an adult, so it flies as early as spring; the caterpillar lives on nettles.
Silver-washed fritillarySilver-washed fritillaryArgynnis paphiaA large orange butterfly of forest clearings with silver stripes on the underside of its wings. It flies in the height of summer.
OreganoOreganoOriganum vulgareA fragrant herb of sunny clearings with pink-purple inflorescences — wild oregano. It blooms from July to September.

Where to meet it

Trails

Osii village – Mount BerdoModerateOne-dayMarkedOsii village Mount BerdoElevation profile257–928 m8.5 kmascent 678 m≈ 3.5 h walkingKamianka tract – Enchanted ValleyEasyOne-dayMarkedKamianka tract Enchanted ValleyElevation profile363–771 m6.8 kmascent 412 m≈ 2.5 h walkingNovoselytsia – Smerekovyi StoneEasyOne-dayMarkedNovoselytsia Smerekovyi StoneElevation profile322–729 m4.3 km≈ 1 h walkingKamianka tract – Mount Berdo – Bilky villageModerateOne-dayMarkedKamianka tract Bilky villagevia Mount BerdoElevation profile150–928 m16 kmascent 565 m≈ 5 h walkingKamianka tract – mineral spring – Huchalo WaterfallEasyOne-dayMarkedKamianka tract Huchalo Waterfallvia mineral springElevation profile365–590 m4.8 kmascent 3 m≈ 1 h walkingDubove village – Mount Apetska – Dubove villageHardOne-dayDubove village loopvia Mount ApetskaElevation profile386–1 512 m21.2 kmascent 1 213 m≈ 7.5 h walking
Dubove village, via Mount Apetska, Mount Dohiaska, Mount Stih and Mount Blyznytsia to Kvasy villageHardMulti-dayDubove village to Kvasy villagevia Mount Apetska, Mount Dohiaska +2Elevation profile387–1 883 m69.1 kmascent 4 794 mKolochava village – Mount Darvaika – Kolochava villageModerateOne-dayMarkedKolochava village loopvia Mount DarvaikaElevation profile558–1 383 m18.5 kmascent 838 m≈ 6 h walkingHorb village – sparkling mineral springModerateOne-dayMarkedHorb village sparkling mineral springElevation profile550–926 m14 kmascent 378 m≈ 4 h walkingKolochava – TapeshModerateOne-dayMarkedKolochava TapeshElevation profile544–1 324 m6.7 kmascent 837 m≈ 3 h walkingKolochava village, via Mount Darvaika and Mount Nehrovets to Kolochava villageHardOne-dayKolochava village loopvia Mount Darvaika, Mount NehrovetsElevation profile565–1 687 m21.9 kmascent 1 554 m≈ 8 h walkingNehrovets – Kosiv Verkh – TapeshEasyOne-dayMarkedNehrovets Tapeshvia Kosiv VerkhElevation profile598–1 324 m7.6 kmascent 3 m≈ 2 h walking

Waters and waterfalls

Svicha RiverRiverSvicha RiverVyhodaThe Svicha is a 107-km right-bank tributary of the Dniester. It rises on the northern slopes of the main Gorgany...Tereblia RiverRiverTereblia RiverKolochavaThe Tereblia begins in the Inner Gorgany, where the Roztoka and Sloboda streams meet, and flows through Synevyrska...Mikva waterfallWaterfallMikva waterfallVyzhenkaThe Mykva Waterfall is a small but very picturesque waterfall located in the village of Vyzhenka, Chernivtsi region.Vyzhenka RiverRiverVyzhenka RiverVyzhenkaTheriver Vyzhenka is located in the village of the same name in the Chernivtsi region.Chemernarsky Hook waterfallWaterfallChemernarsky Hook waterfallDolishnii ShepitChemernarsky Huk Waterfall is a small but very beautiful waterfall located in the village of Dolishniy Shepit,...Chemernarsky waterfall Lower HookWaterfallChemernarsky waterfall Lower HookDolishnii ShepitThe Chemernarsky Lower Hook Waterfall (also known as Lower Shepit) is located in Dolishnyi Shepit, in the western...
Bukovinian (Smugar) waterfallsWaterfallBukovinian (Smugar) waterfallsRoztokyA picturesque chain of waterfalls, up to two kilometers long, stretches along the Smuhariv River in Bukovyna, in the...Sych waterfall (Bukovinian waterfalls)WaterfallSych waterfall (Bukovinian waterfalls)RoztokyThe Sych Waterfall is one of the waterfalls that are part of the Bukovyna Waterfalls, located in the Roztotskyi...Srednyi Huk waterfall (Bukovyna waterfalls)WaterfallSrednyi Huk waterfall (Bukovyna waterfalls)RoztokyThe Srednyi Huk waterfall is one of the Bukovyna waterfalls located in the Chernivtsi region in western Ukraine.

Mountain ranges: Maramureș Mountains, Pokuttia-Bukovina Carpathians, Krasna Polonyna. In other countries: 🇭🇺 Bükk, 🇭🇺 Börzsöny and Cserhát, 🇭🇺 Mátra, 🇸🇰 High Tatras, 🇭🇺 Zemplén Mountains, 🇷🇴 Nemira and Bodoc Mountains, 🇷🇴 Piatra Craiului, 🇷🇴 Mehedinți and Cerna Mountains, 🇷🇴 Harghita and Gurghiu Mountains, 🇸🇰 Strážov Mountains, 🇷🇴 Bihor-Vlădeasa Mountains

Trails and peaks near which naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, iNaturalist), matched by altitude and habitat. Sightings are not guaranteed.

Sources

GBIF · iNaturalist · Wikidata · Distribution data: GBIF.org (CC0 and CC BY records), iNaturalist; names and identifiers: Wikidata (CC0). Text: Karpaty.rocks, checked 11.11.2026.