Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator) is in the Skippers family (Hesperiidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 5,124 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: summer visitor / breeder. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Broad-winged Skipper: observations by month (U.S.)
About Broad-winged Skipper
Poanes viator, the broad-winged skipper, is a skipper butterfly found in North America.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Broad-winged Skipper by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 739 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Maryland | 689 | June | Jun–Aug |
| New Jersey | 547 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Virginia | 379 | June | Jun–Sep |
| North Carolina | 353 | June | May–Jun |
| Massachusetts | 276 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Texas | 273 | October | Jul–Oct |
| Connecticut | 214 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Delaware | 190 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Louisiana | 174 | April | Apr–Oct |
| Georgia | 157 | April | Apr–May |
| South Carolina | 116 | May | Apr–Oct |
| Ohio | 104 | July | Jul–Jul |
| New Hampshire | 101 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Pennsylvania | 100 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Michigan | 96 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Illinois | 84 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Wisconsin | 82 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Alabama | 61 | May | May–Jun |
| Florida | 59 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Maine | 55 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Rhode Island | 49 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Vermont | 49 | July | Jul–Aug |
| District of Columbia | 39 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Tennessee | 39 | June | May–Jul |
| Minnesota | 34 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Arkansas | 23 | June | May–Jun |
| Mississippi | 16 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Oklahoma | 13 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Indiana | 8 | July | Jul–Jul |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related butterflies (Skippers)
Fiery Skipper
Silver-spotted Skipper
Huron Skipper
Zabulon Skipper
Peck's Skipper
Horace's Duskywing
Clouded Skipper
Long-tailed Skipper
Photography tips
- Butterflies are sluggish on cool mornings — the best time for close approaches.
- Keep the sensor parallel to the wings for edge-to-edge sharpness.
- Nectar plants in bloom are reliable places to wait.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Broad-winged Skipper?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from June to August.
Where is Broad-winged Skipper most often seen?
The most observations come from New York, Maryland, New Jersey.