Hedge Brown or Gatekeeper?

[Marsh hopper]

I have several Hedge Browns currently visiting my garden.....at least that's what my book describes them as. In the ID photos on this site it appears they are called Gatekeepers. Have they decided to change the name of this common butterfly or am I looking at 2 species?

[nutmeg]

Both names are used. As a child, I knew them as Hedge Browns, but more recently I have tended to see them referred to as Gatekeepers far more often.

[Jason Green]

Originally Posted by Marsh hopper

I have several Hedge Browns currently visiting my garden.....at least that's what my book describes them as. In the ID photos on this site it appears they are called Gatekeepers. Have they decided to change the name of this common butterfly or am I looking at 2 species?

Gatekeeper is the modern name for what used to be known as the Hedge Brown. The other UK species is Meadow Brown, though this is from a different Genus but the same family - Nymphalidae.

[Marsh hopper]

Thank you, I think I'll continue to call them Hedge Browns, maybe it was to separate them from the similar looking, but much larger Meadow Browns.

[Geoff F]

This certainly seems to be a good year for them here in S. Devon.

Still trying to find a Meadow Brown though.

[Rexer]

I got a photo of a gatekeeper on monday

[Gerel]

Originally Posted by Geoff F

This certainly seems to be a good year for them here in S. Devon.

Still trying to find a Meadow Brown though.

Other way round here, lots of Meadow Browns, no Gatekeepers.