Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Male - May 2025
If you see a large yellow butterfly in New Jersey it is an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)!! This is NJ’s largest butterfly species and has a wingspan of around 5 inches. Males are pastel yellow with black stripes, and females are similar with a warmer yellow color and awesome blue band across the bottom of the hindwings.
Female - August 2014
The first butterfly I ever photographed was a female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail just like the one pictured above on the purple onion flowers. I remember slowly walking up so I wouldn’t scare her and got just a few photos as she perched on an Azalea bush in the sun.
Male - August 2016
This species is in perpetual motion, spinning and twisting on flowers, flying from bloom to bloom, and constantly fluttering its wings while feeding on nectar. You may get a rare moment when the wings are open fully and the sight is truly incredible. If you are really lucky you can find one that is newly emerged and drying its wings like the male above!!
Female - August 2025
I find Eastern Tigers most often in large fields of thistle, but they also love common milkweed, butterfly weed, and ironweed. One year I saw around 100 in a huge local field of common milkweed.
Male - July 2018
August seems to be the best month for the species though they can show up from March through November, so if you walk past a meadow try to find one!! In spring they often fly through the treetops and are always a welcome sight!!
