September to October in the south, August to September in the north. Common throughout Great Britain.

This moth is most easily distinguished from other sallows by the deep red or pinkish-brown head and shoulders in contrast to the yellow thorax. The bright orange-yellow forewing is slightly hooked with deep-red or reddish-brown markings forming a bar from the leading to trailing edge.

They overwinter as eggs, laid in short rows on twigs close to the tree buds. The larvae can be found between late March and early June.