American Branded Skipper (Hesperia colorado) is in the Skippers family (Hesperiidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,981 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in August.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: summer visitor / breeder. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph American Branded Skipper: observations by month (U.S.)
About American Branded Skipper
Hesperia colorado, the western branded skipper, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
American Branded Skipper by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | 409 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Colorado | 403 | August | Aug–Sep |
| California | 375 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Washington | 287 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Idaho | 117 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Wyoming | 116 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Utah | 59 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Montana | 41 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Nevada | 32 | June | Jun–Aug |
| New Mexico | 29 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Nebraska | 26 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Maine | 24 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Arizona | 21 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Michigan | 18 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Alaska | 6 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Minnesota | 5 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Wisconsin | 5 | August | Aug–Aug |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related butterflies (Skippers)
Fiery Skipper
Silver-spotted Skipper
Huron Skipper
Zabulon Skipper
Peck's Skipper
Horace's Duskywing
Clouded Skipper
Long-tailed Skipper
Photography tips
- Butterflies are sluggish on cool mornings — the best time for close approaches.
- Keep the sensor parallel to the wings for edge-to-edge sharpness.
- Nectar plants in bloom are reliable places to wait.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph American Branded Skipper?
Nationally, August has the most observations, with the main season from July to September.
Where is American Branded Skipper most often seen?
The most observations come from Oregon, Colorado, California.