Small Heath

Small Heath

Coenonympha pamphilus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
at Pyrénées National Park

In 3 days ~60% in a week ~90%

269 Verified sightings at Pyrénées National Park From 2019 to 2026
1,384 In all 22 parks
June Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Small Heath

The small heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) is a butterfly species belonging to the family Nymphalidae, classified within the subfamily Satyrinae (commonly known as "the browns"). It is the smallest butterfly in this subfamily. The small heath is diurnal and flies with a noticeable fluttering flight pattern near the ground. It rests with closed wings when not in flight. It is widespread in colonies throughout the grasslands of Eurasia and north-western Africa, preferring drier habitats than other Coenonympha, such as salt marshes, alpine meadows, wetlands, and grasslands near water (i.e. streams). However, habitat loss caused by human activities has led to a decline in populations in some locations.

The larval host plants are grasses, found in various habitats, while adult butterflies feed on nectar from flowers. The males of this species are territorial, which plays a large role in obtaining a female mate. To establish dominance, they partake in lekking, a mating display in which males aggregate in a competitive display to attract passing females.

The small heath is one of 40 species classified within the genus Coenonympha and placed in the family Nymphalidae. It belongs... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Kiskunság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
~50%
2 Monfragüe National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~30%
3 Aigüestortes National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~30%
4 Biebrza National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
~30%
5 Cévennes National Park 🇫🇷 France
~30%
6 Pyrénées National Park 🇫🇷 France
~30%
7 Triglav National Park 🇸🇮 Slovenia
~30%
8 Fertő-Hanság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
~20%
9 Hortobágy National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
~20%
10 Białowieża National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
~20%
11 Bavarian Forest National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
~20%
12 Vanoise National Park 🇫🇷 France
~20%
13 Mercantour National Park 🇫🇷 France
~20%
14 Snowdonia National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~20%
15 Picos de Europa National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~20%
16 Cairngorms National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~20%
17 Ecrins National Park 🇫🇷 France
~20%
18 Plitvice Lakes National Park 🇭🇷 Croatia
~20%
19 Sierra de Guadarrama National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~20%
20 Wadden Sea National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
~20%
21 Sierra Nevada National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~20%
22 Camargue 🇫🇷 France
~10%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Prague 🇨🇿 Czechia
~20%
2 Milan 🇮🇹 Italy
~20%
3 Warsaw 🇵🇱 Poland
~20%
4 London 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~10%
5 Berlin 🇩🇪 Germany
~10%
6 Novosibirsk 🇷🇺 Russia
~10%
7 Vienna 🇦🇹 Austria
~10%
8 Kharkiv 🇺🇦 Ukraine
~10%
9 Birmingham 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~10%
10 Budapest 🇭🇺 Hungary
~10%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Small Heath in Pyrénées National Park?

Possible

About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Small Heath sighting in Pyrénées National Park on a given day, based on 269 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 7th most-seen of the 1277 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 60%, and over a week to about 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Small Heath in Pyrénées National Park?

May to July

In those months about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Small Heath in Pyrénées National Park on a given day, against under 5% in November to February, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Small Heath?

Between 11 am and 2 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Small Heath sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Which relatives of the Small Heath live in Pyrénées National Park?

Same genus: Coenonympha

The closest relatives of the Small Heath that you can see in Pyrénées National Park (genus Coenonympha) are Pearly Heath (about 20%) and Coenonympha iphis (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Small Heath sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Small Heath is recorded against all the insects logged in Pyrénées National Park (269 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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