Yorkshire Status: Common resident.

"Abundant on heaths everywhere" said Porritt in 1907 and we would not argue with this assessment nowadays. It remains common on our heather moorland and on lowland heaths. The population in Yorkshire seems to be healthy and we appear to receive a lot more records than we did twenty years ago. Numbers can at times be large on a sunny day in May or June. A walk across Denton Moor on 2/6/2020 resulted in a count of 2000 which was thought to be a conservative estimate! The only moth you are likely to mistake it for is Latticed Heath, which holds its wings in a raised position. Common Heath holds its wings flat.

Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: Generally very common on heaths and moorland throughout the five vice-counties. Many forms are found of this attractive day-flying species.

Recorded in 106 (53%) of 200 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1880.
Last Recorded in 2024.
Additional Stats