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The male Common Blue can be hard to tell apart from the Holly Blue but is distinguished by the clear white wing margins. The underwing is also quite different
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The underwing can also distinguish a Common Blue from a Brown Argus if the wings are closed - note the marking in the lower part of the forewing, not present in an Argus
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"Half & half" view, showing all the classic characteristics of a (male) Common Blue - violet-blue colour, white wing margins and the marking in the forewing
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The colouration of the female is highly variable, typically ranging from brown with a hint of blue to almost all blue with perhaps a hint of violet, as illustrated here. As shown by the first example, female Common Blue and male Brown Argus are rather similar but the Blue can be distinguished by the overall blue sheen and the white edging to the base of the orange cells in the hindwing
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Here we have the most extreme form, called "mariscolore", where the wings are almost entirely blue but a darker blue than the male
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Females can also be entirely light blue, as shown here. Note the dark spots on her forewings, caused by a halo of white surrounding the black marks often seen in this position, and the unusually white wing-tips
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An unusual example of an all-brown female. Three orange spots are just visible on each forewing, but the white edging to the base of the orange hindwing cells is still well seen
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Although the males' wings are predominantly blue, the forward edge of the rear wing is, surprisingly, in fact brown
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Careful observation shows that the front wings can show considerable variation. Here we have examples with a thick black edge line plus grey "shadow"; a thin black edge with "dashes", and a light-brown edge. The increasing amount of brown is often a sign of age
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