Orange and white

If you see a white butterfly now in April, it is most likely a female orange tip.  Only the males have orange tips to their wings and the Large White and Small White, often referred to as cabbage whites usually appear later in the year. 

female                                   male

And if you see either of them perched, 

the beautiful pattern on the underneath of their wings is distinctive.

Males just flit around to any flowers feeding on nectar but the females seek out the two food plants that their caterpillars need, and lay their eggs on them one at a time.

 Lady's Smock, Cuckoo Flower or Milkmaids and Garlic Mustard or Jack-by-the-Hedge

Butterfly photos: Alan Watts