Monarch (Danaus plexippus) is in the Brush-footed Butterflies family (Nymphalidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 395,906 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.
Conservation status (iNaturalist): G4.
When to photograph Monarch: observations by month (U.S.)
About Monarch
The monarch butterfly or simply monarch (Danaus plexippus) is a milkweed butterfly (subfamily Danainae) in the family Nymphalidae. Other common names depending on region include milkweed, common tiger, wanderer, and black veined brown. It may be the most familiar North American butterfly, and is considered an iconic pollinator species. Its wings feature an easily recognizable black, orange, and white pattern, with a wingspan of 8.9–10.2 cm (3 1⁄2–4 in) The viceroy butterfly is similar in color and...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Monarch by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 64,114 | July | Jun–May |
| Texas | 53,966 | October | Oct–Nov |
| New York | 20,627 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Ohio | 20,186 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Illinois | 19,353 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Florida | 18,681 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Pennsylvania | 14,736 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Virginia | 13,626 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Michigan | 12,412 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Maryland | 12,381 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Minnesota | 12,048 | August | Jun–Sep |
| North Carolina | 10,279 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Wisconsin | 10,205 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Massachusetts | 9,808 | August | Jul–Sep |
| New Jersey | 9,485 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Vermont | 8,260 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Missouri | 6,693 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Indiana | 6,050 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Tennessee | 5,083 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Oklahoma | 4,935 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Maine | 4,812 | August | Jul–Sep |
| New Hampshire | 4,622 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Arkansas | 4,489 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Connecticut | 4,442 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Georgia | 4,024 | October | Aug–Oct |
| Kentucky | 3,543 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Iowa | 3,407 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Colorado | 3,094 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Nebraska | 2,987 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Louisiana | 2,871 | October | Mar–Nov |
| Kansas | 2,850 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Arizona | 2,367 | October | Aug–Jan |
| Alabama | 2,299 | October | Aug–Oct |
| South Carolina | 2,219 | October | Aug–Oct |
| Hawaii | 1,797 | January | Nov–May |
| Delaware | 1,756 | August | Jul–Sep |
| West Virginia | 1,701 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Utah | 1,486 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Mississippi | 1,297 | October | Aug–Nov |
| District of Columbia | 1,193 | September | Aug–Oct |
| New Mexico | 951 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Nevada | 939 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Rhode Island | 901 | August | Jul–Oct |
| South Dakota | 824 | September | Jun–Sep |
| North Dakota | 615 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Oregon | 602 | June | Jun–Sep |
| Idaho | 469 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Wyoming | 160 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Washington | 132 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Montana | 129 | August | Jul–Sep |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related butterflies (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Gulf Fritillary
Common Buckeye
Red Admiral
Pearl Crescent
Painted Lady
American Lady
Variegated Fritillary
Queen
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 Monarch?
Nationally, August has the most observations, with the main season from July to October.
Where is Monarch most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Texas, New York.