A Visual Guide to Identifying Butterflies in Your Garden

Why Identify Butterflies in Your Garden?

• Biodiversity Monitoring: Butterflies are sensitive to changes in the environment. Tracking their presence helps monitor ecosystem health.

• Pollinator Support: Knowing which butterflies visit your garden can guide your planting choices to attract and support more species.

• Educational Value: Butterfly identification is a rewarding activity for all ages, fostering a deeper connection to nature.

• Pest Control Insight: Some butterflies’ caterpillars are garden pests, while others are harmless or even beneficial.

Key Features for Butterfly Identification

Before diving into species, let’s review the main features to observe:

• Wing Color and Pattern: The most obvious clue—look for distinctive colors, spots, stripes, or eyespots.

• Wing Shape: Some butterflies have scalloped, triangular, or rounded wings.

• Size: Butterflies range from tiny blues to large swallowtails.

• Flight Style: Some flutter, others glide or dart.

• Behavior: Note which flowers they visit, how they hold their wings at rest, and their flight times.

• Habitat: Some species prefer sunny borders, others shady woodland edges or grassy lawns.

Common Garden Butterflies: A Visual and Descriptive Guide

Below are some of the most frequently seen butterflies in gardens across North America and Europe, with tips for telling them apart.

1. Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)

Where: Eastern US, southeastern Canada
Appearance:

• Large (up to 5.5-inch wingspan)

• Bright yellow wings with black tiger stripes and black “tails” on hindwings

• Females may also be dark (mimicking the poisonous pipevine swallowtail)
  Caterpillar: Green to brown with large eye spots
  Habitat: Woodlands, parks, gardens
  Flight: Spring to fall
  Identification tip: Striking size and bold black/yellow stripes make this species unmistakable4.

2. Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)

Where: US, Canada, Mexico, Europe
Appearance:

• Medium-large, dark brown to black wings

• Bright red-orange bands across forewings and hindwings

• White spots at tips of forewings
  Caterpillar: Brown, spiky, feeds on nettles
  Habitat: Gardens, woodlands, parks
  Flight: Spring to autumn
  Identification tip: Strong, fast flyer; distinctive red bands and white spots457.

3. Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)

Where: Worldwide
Appearance:

• Orange-brown wings with black and white spots

• Four small eyespots on underside of hindwings
  Caterpillar: Spiny, feeds on thistles
  Habitat: Open gardens, meadows
  Flight: Migratory, spring to autumn
  Identification tip: Compare with American Lady—painted lady has four small eyespots underneath; American Lady has two large ones457.

4. Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)

Where: Europe, UK
Appearance:

• Orange and black wings with blue spots along edges

• Black, yellow, and orange pattern
  Caterpillar: Black, spiny, feeds on nettles
  Habitat: Gardens, hedgerows
  Flight: Spring to autumn
  Identification tip: Blue dots along wing edges are key537.

5. Peacock (Aglais io)

Where: Europe, UK
Appearance:

• Large, reddish wings with striking blue and yellow “eyespots”

• Underside dark, resembling a dead leaf
  Caterpillar: Black, spiny
  Habitat: Gardens, open woodlands
  Flight: Spring to autumn
  Identification tip: Large eyespots on all wings537.

6. Comma (Polygonia c-album)

Where: Europe, UK
Appearance:

• Orange with black spots, deeply scalloped wing edges

• Underside brown, resembling a dead leaf with a white “comma” mark
  Caterpillar: Brown, spiny
  Habitat: Gardens, woodland edges
  Flight: Spring to autumn
  Identification tip: Ragged wings and white comma on underwing527.

7. Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus)

Where: Europe, UK
Appearance:

• Males: bright blue upperwings with thin black borders

• Females: brown with orange spots, sometimes blue-tinged
  Caterpillar: Green, feeds on clovers and vetches
  Habitat: Grassy areas, lawns, meadows
  Flight: Spring to autumn
  Identification tip: Males’ vivid blue is unmistakable; females more variable527.

8. Large White (Pieris brassicae)

Where: Europe, UK
Appearance:

• Large, white wings with black tips on forewings

• Females have two black spots on forewings
  Caterpillar: Green/yellow, feeds on brassicas
  Habitat: Gardens, especially where cabbages grow
  Flight: Spring to autumn
  Identification tip: Size and bold black tips distinguish it from smaller whites537.

9. Small White (Pieris rapae)

Where: Europe, UK, North America (imported)
Appearance:

• Smaller than large white, white wings with small black tips and one or two spots
  Caterpillar: Green, feeds on brassicas
  Habitat: Gardens, meadows
  Flight: Spring to autumn
  Identification tip: Smaller size, less pronounced black markings than large white537.

10. Green-veined White (Pieris napi)

Where: Europe, UK
Appearance:

• White wings with fine greenish veins on hindwings
  Caterpillar: Green, feeds on wild mustards
  Habitat: Damp meadows, gardens
  Flight: Spring to autumn
  Identification tip: Green veining visible on underwings537.

11. Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines)

Where: Europe, UK
Appearance:

• Males: white with bright orange tips on forewings

• Females: white with black tips
  Caterpillar: Green, feeds on wildflowers
  Habitat: Hedgerows, gardens
  Flight: Spring
  Identification tip: Only males have orange tips; both sexes have mottled green underwings5.

12. Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)

Where: Europe, UK
Appearance:

• Brown with creamy-yellow spots and black eye spots
  Caterpillar: Green
  Habitat: Woodland edges, shady gardens
  Flight: Spring to autumn
  Identification tip: Prefers dappled shade, distinctive speckled pattern537.

13. Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina)

Where: Europe, UK
Appearance:

• Brown with orange patches and a single black eyespot on forewing
  Caterpillar: Green
  Habitat: Lawns, meadows, grassy gardens
  Flight: Summer
  Identification tip: Often seen in large numbers, plain brown with orange537.

14. Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus)

Where: Europe, UK
Appearance:

• Dark brown with several small white-ringed eyespots on underwings
  Caterpillar: Green
  Habitat: Damp meadows, gardens
  Flight: Summer
  Identification tip: Multiple ringed spots on underwing537.

15. Skippers (Family Hesperiidae)

Where: Europe, UK, North America
Appearance:

• Small, orange or brown, with a stocky body and hooked antennae

• Hold forewings angled above hindwings, giving a triangular look
  Caterpillar: Green, feeds on grasses
  Habitat: Grassy areas, lawns
  Flight: Summer
  Identification tip: Rapid, darting flight; distinctive wing posture527.

16. Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus)

Where: Europe, UK (migrant)
Appearance:

• Bright yellow wings with black borders
  Caterpillar: Green
  Habitat: Open fields, gardens
  Flight: Summer to autumn
  Identification tip: Strong, fast flyer; vivid yellow color257.

17. American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis)

Where: North America
Appearance:

• Similar to painted lady, but with two large eyespots on underwing
  Caterpillar: Spiny, feeds on asters
  Habitat: Gardens, meadows
  Flight: Spring to autumn
  Identification tip: Two large underwing eyespots vs. four small in painted lady4.

18. Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme)

Where: US, Canada, Mexico
Appearance:

• Orange-yellow wings with black borders
  Caterpillar: Green, feeds on legumes
  Habitat: Meadows, gardens
  Flight: Summer
  Identification tip: Orange color visible in flight, white “alba” form in females4.

Tips for Successful Butterfly Identification

• Photograph Both Sides: The upper and underwings can look very different. Try to photograph both for easier ID.

• Note the Season: Some butterflies are only present in certain months.

• Observe Host Plants: Caterpillars are often found on their preferred food plants—nettles for peacock, cabbage for whites, etc.

• Behavioral Clues: Some butterflies bask with wings open (peacock, red admiral), others with wings closed (comma, small tortoiseshell).

• Use Field Guides and Apps: Many excellent guides and apps can help with quick identification. Local wildlife trusts and butterfly conservation groups often provide free resources125.

Attracting More Butterflies to Your Garden

• Plant Native Flowers: Choose a mix of nectar-rich plants that bloom from spring to autumn.

• Provide Host Plants: Many caterpillars have specific food plants—nettles, cabbages, violets, etc.

• Avoid Pesticides: Even organic sprays can harm butterflies and their larvae.

• Create Sunny, Sheltered Spots: Butterflies need warmth to fly and prefer sunny, wind-protected areas.

• Provide Water and Mud Puddles: Some species “puddle” for minerals.

Conclusion

Identifying butterflies in your garden is a delightful way to connect with nature, support pollinators, and contribute to conservation. With practice, you’ll soon recognize the flutter of a red admiral, the shimmer of a common blue, or the bold stripes of a swallowtail. Keep your eyes open, your camera ready, and your garden full of flowers—nature’s living jewels are waiting to be discovered.

References:
This guide draws on field observations and resources from butterfly conservation organizations and wildlife trusts, including visual guides and species lists for common garden butterflies in North America and Europe123457.