Erynnis tages is found in warm open areas such as south facing chalk and limestone downland, open hillsides, railway embankments, dunes, cliffs and abandoned quarries. It can also be found at the ends of woods as well as in woodland clearings and rides.
   Suitable conditions occur where food plants grow in a sparse fields, often with patches of bare ground in a sunny, sheltered areas.Taller vegetation is also required for shelter and roosting.
    In sunshine, the Dingy Skipper will bask on bare ground with wings spread wide open.
   In dull weather, and at night, they perch on the tops of dead flowerheads in a moth like fashion. 
   This small brown and grey butterfly is extremely well camouflaged. It may be confused with the Grizzled Skipper, the Mother Shipton moth and Burnet Companion moth, which sometimes occur on the same sites at the same time.
   In late afternoon the butterflies will gather to roost on dead flowers or grass heads, where they rest with wings wrapped around the flower head.