Many butterfly enthusiasts are stymied by the skippers. Most skippers, however, are readily identifiable in the field with the aid of close focusing binoculars. This video guide presents the skippers as seen in their natural habitats. The narration describes characteristic features of each skipper that distinguish one species from another. Similar looking skippers as well as species that occur in the same season and/or habitat are placed together to facilitate comparison. The introductory video provides an overview of skippers (Family Hesperiidae) and the three groups found in our area: Spread-winged Skippers, Grass Skippers, and Skipperling.

Note that a number of the southern skippers included here have expanded their ranges northward while the relative abundance of others has either increased or decreased since these videos were produced. Consult regional lists for up-to-date information.