The Essex Skipper butterfly rests with its forewings held above the hindwings. The tops of the wings are orange-brown edged with black.

Their favourite food plants are Cock's Foot and grasses.

They are usually seen in grassland, on roadside verges, embankments, and woodland rides.

The Essex Skipper was the last British resident species of butterfly to be described; it was not recognised as a separate species until 1889. They are often found in company with Small Skippers. The Essex Skipper and the Small Skipper look similar. The species are distinguished by examining the undersides of the tips of their club-shaped antennae. These are black in the Essex Skipper and orange or brown in the Small Skipper.