Brown Elfin (Callophrys augustinus) is in the Gossamer-winged Butterflies family (Lycaenidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 5,195 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Brown Elfin: observations by month (U.S.)
About Brown Elfin
Callophrys augustinus, the brown elfin, is butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found from Newfoundland north and west through the northern United States and the prairie provinces to Alaska. To the south it ranges in Appalachian Mountains to northern Georgia and northern Alabama, further south through the western mountains to northern Baja California in Mexico. Subspecies iroides is known as the western elfin.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Brown Elfin by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 2,379 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Oregon | 373 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Arizona | 283 | March | Feb–Apr |
| Washington | 229 | May | Apr–May |
| Massachusetts | 222 | May | Apr–May |
| Vermont | 168 | May | May–May |
| Michigan | 152 | May | May–May |
| New Jersey | 120 | April | Apr–Apr |
| New York | 116 | May | Apr–May |
| Minnesota | 105 | May | May–Jun |
| North Carolina | 94 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Wisconsin | 94 | May | May–May |
| New Hampshire | 86 | May | Apr–May |
| Colorado | 82 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Idaho | 78 | May | Apr–May |
| Maine | 75 | May | May–Jun |
| South Carolina | 72 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Maryland | 67 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Virginia | 52 | April | Apr–May |
| Montana | 49 | May | Apr–May |
| Nevada | 40 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Connecticut | 34 | May | May–May |
| Utah | 31 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Ohio | 27 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Tennessee | 26 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Wyoming | 26 | May | May–Jun |
| Pennsylvania | 21 | May | May–May |
| Kentucky | 19 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Rhode Island | 18 | May | May–May |
| Georgia | 16 | March | Mar–Apr |
| New Mexico | 12 | May | Mar–May |
| West Virginia | 11 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Alaska | 7 | June | Jun–Jun |
| South Dakota | 6 | May | May–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related butterflies (Gossamer-winged Butterflies)
Gray Hairstreak
Eastern Tailed-Blue
Red-banded Hairstreak
Marine Blue
Ceraunus Blue
Summer Azure
Western Pygmy-Blue
Reakirt's Blue
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 Brown Elfin?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from March to June.
Where is Brown Elfin most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Oregon, Arizona.