Coenonympha pamphilus
In 3 days ~40% in a week ~70%
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 →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kiskunság National Park | 🇭🇺 Hungary | |
| 2 | Monfragüe National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 3 | Aigüestortes National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 4 | Biebrza National Park | 🇵🇱 Poland | |
| 5 | Cévennes National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 6 | Pyrénées National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 7 | Triglav National Park | 🇸🇮 Slovenia | |
| 8 | Fertő-Hanság National Park | 🇭🇺 Hungary | |
| 9 | Hortobágy National Park | 🇭🇺 Hungary | |
| 10 | Białowieża National Park | 🇵🇱 Poland | |
| 11 | Bavarian Forest National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 12 | Vanoise National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 13 | Mercantour National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 14 | Snowdonia National Park | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 15 | Picos de Europa National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 16 | Cairngorms National Park | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 17 | Ecrins National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 18 | Plitvice Lakes National Park | 🇭🇷 Croatia | |
| 19 | Sierra de Guadarrama National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 20 | Wadden Sea National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 21 | Sierra Nevada National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 22 | Camargue | 🇫🇷 France |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prague | 🇨🇿 Czechia | |
| 2 | Milan | 🇮🇹 Italy | |
| 3 | Warsaw | 🇵🇱 Poland | |
| 4 | London | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 5 | Berlin | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 6 | Novosibirsk | 🇷🇺 Russia | |
| 7 | Vienna | 🇦🇹 Austria | |
| 8 | Kharkiv | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | |
| 9 | Birmingham | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 10 | Budapest | 🇭🇺 Hungary |
Possible
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Small Heath sighting in Sierra Nevada National Park on a given day, based on 18 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 103rd most-seen of the 479 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 40%, and over a week to about 70%, if each day is a fresh chance.
February to June
In those months about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Small Heath in Sierra Nevada National Park on a given day, against under 5% in September to January, the lowest months.
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.
21st of 22
Of the 22 parks where we can rate Small Heath sightings, Sierra Nevada National Park ranks 21st at about 20%. The best odds are in Kiskunság National Park (Hungary, about 50%), Monfragüe National Park (Spain, about 30%) and Aigüestortes National Park (Spain, about 30%). All parks ranked.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Small Heath is recorded against all the insects logged in Sierra Nevada National Park (18 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.
