Eastern Pine Elfin (Callophrys niphon) is in the Gossamer-winged Butterflies family (Lycaenidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 3,093 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 Eastern Pine Elfin: observations by month (U.S.)
About Eastern Pine Elfin
Callophrys niphon, the eastern pine elfin, is a species of Lycaenidae that is native to North America.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Eastern Pine Elfin by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 605 | May | May–May |
| New Hampshire | 391 | May | May–May |
| Vermont | 281 | May | May–May |
| Michigan | 228 | May | May–Jun |
| New York | 226 | May | May–May |
| Maine | 202 | May | May–Jun |
| Wisconsin | 174 | May | May–May |
| Maryland | 138 | April | Apr–May |
| New Jersey | 118 | April | Apr–May |
| Connecticut | 99 | May | May–May |
| Virginia | 90 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Minnesota | 78 | June | May–Jun |
| Pennsylvania | 73 | May | Apr–May |
| Ohio | 66 | April | Apr–May |
| North Carolina | 58 | April | Mar–May |
| Texas | 39 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Georgia | 37 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Arkansas | 36 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Rhode Island | 29 | May | Apr–May |
| Tennessee | 20 | April | Mar–May |
| Louisiana | 17 | March | Feb–Mar |
| South Carolina | 12 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Kentucky | 11 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Oklahoma | 11 | May | Apr–May |
| Alabama | 10 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Indiana | 8 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Mississippi | 8 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Missouri | 7 | April | Apr–Apr |
| West Virginia | 7 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Florida | 5 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Illinois | 5 | April | Apr–Apr |
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 Eastern Pine Elfin?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to May.
Where is Eastern Pine Elfin most often seen?
The most observations come from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont.