25 butterflies were recorded flying in Montana in April in our iNaturalist sample; 0 of the top 50 are at their peak this month. The list is ranked by number of research-grade observations.
Top butterflies in April
California Tortoiseshell
Mourning Cloak
Green Comma
Echo Azure
Hoary Comma
Milbert's Tortoiseshell
Satyr Comma
Small White
Brown Elfin
Western Pine Elfin
Western White
Painted Lady
All butterflies flying in Montana in April
| # | Species | Scientific name | Family | Obs. | Peak in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Tortoiseshell | Nymphalis californica | Brush-footed Butterflies | 102 | Jul (rising) |
| 2 | Mourning Cloak | Nymphalis antiopa | Brush-footed Butterflies | 102 | Aug (rising) |
| 3 | Green Comma | Polygonia faunus | Brush-footed Butterflies | 62 | May (rising) |
| 4 | Echo Azure | Celastrina echo | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 34 | May (rising) |
| 5 | Hoary Comma | Polygonia gracilis | Brush-footed Butterflies | 30 | Aug (rising) |
| 6 | Milbert's Tortoiseshell | Aglais milberti | Brush-footed Butterflies | 28 | Jul (rising) |
| 7 | Satyr Comma | Polygonia satyrus | Brush-footed Butterflies | 27 | Aug (rising) |
| 8 | Small White | Pieris rapae | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 16 | Jul (rising) |
| 9 | Brown Elfin | Callophrys augustinus | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 16 | May (rising) |
| 10 | Western Pine Elfin | Callophrys eryphon | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 13 | May (rising) |
| 11 | Western White | Pontia occidentalis | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 12 | Aug (rising) |
| 12 | Painted Lady | Vanessa cardui | Brush-footed Butterflies | 9 | Jul (rising) |
| 13 | Mylitta Crescent | Phyciodes mylitta | Brush-footed Butterflies | 4 | Aug (rising) |
| 14 | Becker's White | Pontia beckerii | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 4 | Jul (rising) |
| 15 | Anise Swallowtail | Papilio zelicaon | Swallowtails and Parnassians | 3 | Jul (rising) |
| 16 | Monarch | Danaus plexippus | Brush-footed Butterflies | 2 | Aug (rising) |
| 17 | Checkered White | Pontia protodice | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 2 | Jul (rising) |
| 18 | Margined White | Pieris marginalis | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 2 | Jul (rising) |
| 19 | Juniper Hairstreak | Callophrys gryneus | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 2 | Jun (rising) |
| 20 | Red Admiral | Vanessa atalanta | Brush-footed Butterflies | 1 | Aug (rising) |
| 21 | Silvery Blue | Glaucopsyche lygdamus | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 1 | Jun (rising) |
| 22 | Canadian Tiger Swallowtail | Papilio canadensis | Swallowtails and Parnassians | 1 | Jul (rising) |
| 23 | Orange Sulphur | Colias eurytheme | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 1 | Jul (rising) |
| 24 | Clodius Parnassian | Parnassius clodius | Swallowtails and Parnassians | 1 | Jul (rising) |
| 25 | Boisduval's Blue | Icaricia icarioides | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 1 | Jun (rising) |