Erebia

thanks bayucca...

gorgeous!

@SanjaySaklani, thanks for the ID. bayucca says the Common Alpine is only found in the US, so I didn't add a species to the ID. Did you realize this was spotted in Europe?

bayucca, I added another shot of this butterfly, but I don't know if it will help.

The Common Alpine is an US species and not found in Europe. Among the 60 (!) Erebis sp. found in Erebia there are at least 10 to 15 species candidates for your spotting. But without a second shot it is hard to ID. They are all quite variable and show some sexual dimorphism as well.

These dark brown beauties are common in mountainous areas covered in grasses. Their dark color helps absorb heat as they bask in the sun. The males spend most of their day patrolling for females and mud puddling. The Common Alpine butterfly mostly stays at higher altitudes but occasionally makes its way to the foothills. Their weak flight patterns make them interesting to watch as they bounce through grassy patches.