32 butterflies were recorded flying in Massachusetts in April in our iNaturalist sample; 2 of the top 50 are at their peak this month. The list is ranked by number of research-grade observations.
Top butterflies in April
Mourning Cloak
American Lady
Small White
Spring Azure
Eastern Pine Elfin
Eastern Comma
Brown Elfin
Juvenal's Duskywing
Red Admiral
American Copper
Henry's Elfin
Eastern Tailed-Blue
All butterflies flying in Massachusetts in April
| # | Species | Scientific name | Family | Obs. | Peak in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mourning Cloak | Nymphalis antiopa | Brush-footed Butterflies | 449 | Apr (peak) |
| 2 | American Lady | Vanessa virginiensis | Brush-footed Butterflies | 280 | Jul (rising) |
| 3 | Small White | Pieris rapae | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 264 | Jul (rising) |
| 4 | Spring Azure | Celastrina ladon | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 205 | Apr (peak) |
| 5 | Eastern Pine Elfin | Callophrys niphon | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 119 | May (rising) |
| 6 | Eastern Comma | Polygonia comma | Brush-footed Butterflies | 91 | Jul (rising) |
| 7 | Brown Elfin | Callophrys augustinus | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 81 | May (rising) |
| 8 | Juvenal's Duskywing | Erynnis juvenalis | Skippers | 70 | May (rising) |
| 9 | Red Admiral | Vanessa atalanta | Brush-footed Butterflies | 51 | Jul (rising) |
| 10 | American Copper | Lycaena hypophlaeas | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 48 | Jul (rising) |
| 11 | Henry's Elfin | Callophrys henrici | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 43 | May (rising) |
| 12 | Eastern Tailed-Blue | Everes comyntas | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 26 | Jul (rising) |
| 13 | Painted Lady | Vanessa cardui | Brush-footed Butterflies | 25 | Sep (rising) |
| 14 | Gray Hairstreak | Strymon melinus | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 22 | Aug (rising) |
| 15 | Sleepy Duskywing | Erynnis brizo | Skippers | 17 | May (rising) |
| 16 | White M Hairstreak | Parrhasius m-album | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 8 | Aug (rising) |
| 17 | Spicebush Swallowtail | Papilio troilus | Swallowtails and Parnassians | 6 | Jul (rising) |
| 18 | Clouded Sulphur | Colias philodice | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 6 | Sep (rising) |
| 19 | Question Mark | Polygonia interrogationis | Brush-footed Butterflies | 6 | Jul (rising) |
| 20 | Eastern Tiger Swallowtail | Papilio glaucus | Swallowtails and Parnassians | 6 | Aug (rising) |
| 21 | Monarch | Danaus plexippus | Brush-footed Butterflies | 4 | Aug (rising) |
| 22 | Juniper Hairstreak | Callophrys gryneus | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 4 | May (rising) |
| 23 | Baltimore Checkerspot | Euphydryas phaeton | Brush-footed Butterflies | 3 | Jun (rising) |
| 24 | Red-spotted Admiral | Limenitis arthemis | Brush-footed Butterflies | 3 | Jun (rising) |
| 25 | Summer Azure | Celastrina neglecta | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 3 | Jul (rising) |
| 26 | Harvester | Feniseca tarquinius | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 2 | Aug (rising) |
| 27 | Pearl Crescent | Phyciodes tharos | Brush-footed Butterflies | 1 | Jul (rising) |
| 28 | Silvery Blue | Glaucopsyche lygdamus | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 1 | May (rising) |
| 29 | Canadian Tiger Swallowtail | Papilio canadensis | Swallowtails and Parnassians | 1 | Jun (rising) |
| 30 | Black Swallowtail | Papilio polyxenes | Swallowtails and Parnassians | 1 | Sep (rising) |
| 31 | Meadow Fritillary | Boloria bellona | Brush-footed Butterflies | 1 | Aug (rising) |
| 32 | Great Spangled Fritillary | Argynnis cybele | Brush-footed Butterflies | 1 | Jul (rising) |