Green Comma (Polygonia faunus) is in the Brush-footed Butterflies family (Nymphalidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 3,651 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 Green Comma: observations by month (U.S.)
About Green Comma
Polygonia faunus, the green comma or Faunus anglewing is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found in North America.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Green Comma by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 616 | September | Apr–Sep |
| New Hampshire | 447 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Montana | 424 | May | Apr–Sep |
| Oregon | 415 | August | Mar–Sep |
| Wyoming | 305 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Colorado | 225 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Idaho | 219 | August | Aug–Aug |
| New Mexico | 175 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Maine | 159 | August | Apr–Aug |
| Vermont | 156 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Alaska | 141 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Minnesota | 101 | July | May–Aug |
| Michigan | 98 | July | May–Aug |
| California | 54 | July | Mar–Jul |
| New York | 48 | August | Apr–Sep |
| Wisconsin | 19 | July | Jul–Jul |
| North Carolina | 16 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Arizona | 13 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Utah | 11 | September | Sep–Sep |
| South Dakota | 7 | May | May–Jul |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related butterflies (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Monarch
Gulf Fritillary
Common Buckeye
Red Admiral
Pearl Crescent
Painted Lady
American Lady
Variegated Fritillary
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 Green Comma?
Nationally, August has the most observations, with the main season from April to September.
Where is Green Comma most often seen?
The most observations come from Washington, New Hampshire, Montana.