Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) is in the Swallowtails and Parnassians family (Papilionidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 164,882 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in August.
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 Eastern Tiger Swallowtail: observations by month (U.S.)
About Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus, the eastern tiger swallowtail, is a species of swallowtail butterfly native to eastern North America. It is one of the most familiar butterflies in the eastern United States, where it is common in many different habitats. It has also been found in Olüdeniz, Turkey. It flies from spring to fall, during which it produces two to three broods. Adults feed on the nectar of many species of flowers, mostly from those of the Apocynaceae,...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 17,946 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Virginia | 17,067 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Maryland | 13,637 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Ohio | 11,125 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Pennsylvania | 10,657 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Texas | 9,537 | May | Mar–Sep |
| Georgia | 8,987 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Tennessee | 7,671 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Illinois | 6,527 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Alabama | 5,074 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Florida | 5,033 | September | Mar–Oct |
| New York | 4,469 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Indiana | 4,167 | August | Jul–Aug |
| New Jersey | 4,044 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Minnesota | 3,703 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Kentucky | 3,589 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Missouri | 3,391 | August | Jul–Sep |
| South Carolina | 3,192 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Arkansas | 2,655 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Michigan | 2,653 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Wisconsin | 2,517 | August | Jul–Aug |
| West Virginia | 1,995 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Massachusetts | 1,970 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Oklahoma | 1,950 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Connecticut | 1,822 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Delaware | 1,480 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Mississippi | 1,438 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Louisiana | 1,242 | August | Mar–Sep |
| District of Columbia | 1,146 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Kansas | 1,129 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Nebraska | 1,116 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Iowa | 985 | August | Jul–Aug |
| South Dakota | 386 | August | Jun–Aug |
| Rhode Island | 226 | August | Jun–Aug |
| North Dakota | 170 | August | Jul–Aug |
| New Hampshire | 141 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Colorado | 22 | August | Jun–Aug |
| Maine | 10 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Wyoming | 10 | August | Aug–Aug |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related butterflies (Swallowtails and Parnassians)
Pipevine Swallowtail
Black Swallowtail
Spicebush Swallowtail
Eastern Giant Swallowtail
Western Tiger Swallowtail
Zebra Swallowtail
Anise Swallowtail
Western Giant Swallowtail
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 Tiger Swallowtail?
Nationally, August has the most observations, with the main season from July to September.
Where is Eastern Tiger Swallowtail most often seen?
The most observations come from North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland.