Wingspan 16 to 21 mm. Although quite variable in colour, the contrasting dorsal blotch is often present, sometimes darker and other times paler than the ground colour. The typical form has a yellowish brown or reddish brown forewing with a large dorsal blotch which may be slightly paler or white. Another form has a much paler creamy forewing with a large, brown dorsal blotch.

Well wooded areas.

It flies in July and August and will come to light.

The larvae feed in a rolled leaf of Birch, Hazel, Willow or occasionally some other species of tree or bush.

Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.

Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland. L&R Moth Group status = C (very scarce resident or rare migrant).