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This is a relatively large Speyeria (wingspan 56 - 53 mm), with a pale-greenish, washed-out underside. Edwards' Fritillary can be similar, but is slightly larger and has a concave forewing margin. The Mormon Fritillary also often has a pale green underside (particularly prairie populations), but it is much smaller (40 - 50 mm). In Callippe the underside silver spots show through as slightly paler orbs on the upperside. Subspecies calgariana, described from the vicinity of Calgary, occurs on the Alberta prairies, while populations from the Crowsnest Pass more closely resemble subspecies semivirida (Bird et al. 1995).

The tan-coloured eggs are laid near dried-up violets, where fresh leaves for larvae to feed on will appear in the spring (Scott 1986). The mature larvae are very similar to S. zerene, being predominantly black with spiny protuberances (Scott 1986). Callippe males patrol topographical prominences in search of females (Scott 1986).