Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus) is in the Gossamer-winged Butterflies family (Lycaenidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 13,119 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
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 Juniper Hairstreak: observations by month (U.S.)
About Juniper Hairstreak
Callophrys gryneus, the juniper hairstreak or olive hairstreak, is a butterfly native to North America. It belongs in the family Lycaenidae.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Juniper Hairstreak by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 5,655 | March | Mar–May |
| Oregon | 738 | June | May–Jul |
| California | 694 | June | Jun–Jul |
| New Mexico | 680 | July | Apr–Jul |
| Arizona | 571 | April | Mar–Aug |
| Virginia | 405 | July | Apr–Aug |
| Colorado | 343 | June | Jun–Jul |
| North Carolina | 343 | April | Apr–Aug |
| Ohio | 320 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Tennessee | 307 | April | Mar–Aug |
| New Jersey | 235 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Kentucky | 223 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Oklahoma | 221 | April | Apr–Aug |
| Missouri | 197 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Maryland | 191 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Washington | 191 | May | May–Jun |
| Arkansas | 174 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Utah | 168 | June | May–Jul |
| Georgia | 113 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Nebraska | 107 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Alabama | 101 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Nevada | 95 | June | May–Jun |
| Florida | 86 | April | Mar–May |
| Kansas | 86 | July | Apr–Jul |
| South Carolina | 84 | April | Mar–Jun |
| New York | 82 | May | May–May |
| Idaho | 80 | June | May–Jun |
| Pennsylvania | 72 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Massachusetts | 71 | May | May–May |
| Montana | 67 | June | May–Jun |
| Wisconsin | 59 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Vermont | 46 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Wyoming | 45 | May | May–Jun |
| Connecticut | 41 | May | May–May |
| Louisiana | 39 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Mississippi | 39 | June | Jun–Jun |
| West Virginia | 30 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Minnesota | 25 | July | May–Jul |
| North Dakota | 24 | June | Jun–Jun |
| South Dakota | 24 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Illinois | 21 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Iowa | 13 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Indiana | 7 | April | Apr–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 Juniper Hairstreak?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to July.
Where is Juniper Hairstreak most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Oregon, California.