Gatekeeper vs European Peacock Butterfly
Pyronia tithonus and Aglais io
Comparison notes
Field marks and practical differences
The Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) is a medium-sized butterfly with warm orange-brown wings edged in dark borders and two white-spotted eyespots on the forewings. Males show a bold dark patch on the front wings, while females are lighter and more patchy. It frequents sheltered grasslands, hedgerows, and woodland edges mainly in England, Wales, and southern Ireland, flying from mid-July to early September. When resting with wings closed, its camouflaged underside helps it blend into grasses, making it less conspicuous. In contrast, the European Peacock (Aglais io) is instantly recognisable by its large, colourful eyespots resembling peacock feathers on deep maroon wings. Found throughout the British Isles, it favours gardens, meadows, and woodland edges. The Peacock’s dark, bark-like wing undersides provide excellent camouflage when at rest. Unlike the Gatekeeper, Peacocks overwinter as adults, often hibernating in sheltered spots before emerging on warm winter days. Both species share similar body sizes but differ markedly in wing pattern and seasonal behaviour, aiding field identification.
Size stats
Compare species by wingspan and weight
- Body length
- 2.5 - 3.5 cm
- Weight
- 0.2 - 0.5 g
- Body length
- 2.5 - 3.5 cm
- Weight
- 0.3 - 0.6 g
Habitats
Where they live
Diet breakdown
What they eat
- Nectar & pollen80%
- Fruits & seeds15%
- Plant matter5%
- Nectar & pollen80%
- Fruits & seeds10%
- Plant matter10%
Species notes
Descriptions and photographer notes
Gatekeeper
The Gatekeeper is a medium-sized butterfly with warm orange-brown wings. These wings have distinctive dark edges and noticeable eyespots. Male Gatekeepers have a bold dark mark across their front wings, while females have lighter, more patchy colouring. Both males and females usually have two white spots within the black eyespots on their front wings, which helps to tell them apart from similar butterflies. This butterfly is common across England, Wales, and southern Ireland but becomes less common further north. It is not found in Scotland, except for occasional visitors. The Gatekeeper prefers sheltered grassland areas such as hedgerows, woodland edges, country lanes, and gardens. The adult butterflies are active from mid-July to early September. They especially like feeding on bramble flowers and often rest on grasses with their wings closed. When resting, the patterns on the underside of their wings help them blend into their surroundings, making them hard to spot.
European Peacock Butterfly
The European Peacock is one of Britain's most easily recognised butterflies. It has large, bright eye-like spots on each wing. These markings look like peacock feathers, with bright blue centres surrounded by yellow, red, and black on deep maroon upper wings. The underside of the wings is dark and looks like tree bark, helping the butterfly blend in when resting. The wingspan of adults is between 63 and 69 millimetres. This butterfly is found all over the British Isles and much of temperate Europe, stretching as far as Japan. It lives in gardens, the edges of woodlands, hedgerows, and meadows full of flowers. Adults are especially attracted to buddleia, thistles, and other flowers that have a lot of nectar. Unlike most British butterflies, the European Peacock spends the winter as an adult. They hibernate in dark, sheltered places like sheds, hollow trees, and buildings. They come out on warm days in late winter.