Dun Skipper (Euphyes vestris) is in the Skippers family (Hesperiidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 15,412 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
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 Dun Skipper: observations by month (U.S.)
About Dun Skipper
Euphyes vestris, the dun skipper, sedge witch or dun sedge skipper, is a species of butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in North America from Nova Scotia west across southern Canada to southern Alberta, south to Florida, the Gulf Coast and eastern Texas. There are disjunct populations in the High Plains and Rocky Mountains and along the Pacific Coast.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Dun Skipper by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 3,620 | April | Apr–Oct |
| New York | 762 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Maine | 683 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Maryland | 677 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Wisconsin | 644 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Vermont | 603 | July | Jul–Jul |
| New Hampshire | 567 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Michigan | 555 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Pennsylvania | 529 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Massachusetts | 514 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Virginia | 498 | August | Jun–Aug |
| Georgia | 437 | July | Apr–Sep |
| Florida | 415 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Ohio | 397 | July | Jun–Aug |
| North Carolina | 347 | August | May–Sep |
| Colorado | 329 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Illinois | 325 | June | Jun–Sep |
| Louisiana | 318 | August | Jun–Oct |
| Minnesota | 306 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Oregon | 294 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Arkansas | 270 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Missouri | 200 | August | Aug–Sep |
| South Carolina | 194 | September | Jul–Sep |
| Tennessee | 191 | August | May–Aug |
| New Mexico | 187 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Connecticut | 186 | July | Jul–Jul |
| New Jersey | 155 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Oklahoma | 151 | June | Jun–Jun |
| California | 136 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Alabama | 120 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Kentucky | 110 | August | May–Sep |
| West Virginia | 100 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Indiana | 99 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Washington | 95 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Kansas | 88 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Nebraska | 63 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Iowa | 61 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Mississippi | 41 | July | Jul–Sep |
| South Dakota | 29 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Rhode Island | 28 | July | Jul–Jul |
| District of Columbia | 21 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Arizona | 20 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Delaware | 15 | June | May–Jun |
| Idaho | 12 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Wyoming | 8 | July | Jul–Aug |
| North Dakota | 6 | July | Jul–Jul |
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 Dun Skipper?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from June to August.
Where is Dun Skipper most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, New York, Maine.