Northern Cloudywing (Cecropterus pylades) is in the Skippers family (Hesperiidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 5,691 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in June.
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 Northern Cloudywing: observations by month (U.S.)
Northern Cloudywing by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 1,296 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Florida | 836 | March | Mar–Apr |
| California | 445 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Arizona | 282 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Vermont | 204 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Maryland | 202 | June | May–Jun |
| Georgia | 189 | April | Apr–Aug |
| North Carolina | 165 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Arkansas | 163 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Oregon | 148 | June | May–Jun |
| New Mexico | 144 | June | May–Aug |
| South Carolina | 116 | April | Apr–May |
| Virginia | 116 | May | May–Jun |
| Missouri | 109 | June | May–Jun |
| Minnesota | 105 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Wisconsin | 105 | June | Jun–Jun |
| New York | 103 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Oklahoma | 98 | April | Apr–Jul |
| Colorado | 81 | June | May–Jun |
| Ohio | 78 | June | May–Jun |
| Maine | 75 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Utah | 62 | June | May–Jun |
| New Hampshire | 61 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Massachusetts | 57 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Kentucky | 56 | May | May–Jun |
| Pennsylvania | 52 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Washington | 51 | May | May–Jun |
| Tennessee | 49 | May | May–Jul |
| Michigan | 37 | June | May–Jul |
| New Jersey | 35 | June | May–Jun |
| Indiana | 25 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Louisiana | 23 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Alabama | 19 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Illinois | 19 | May | May–Jun |
| Idaho | 16 | May | May–Jun |
| Connecticut | 14 | June | May–Jun |
| Iowa | 14 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Kansas | 13 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Rhode Island | 6 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Mississippi | 5 | July | Jul–Aug |
| South Dakota | 5 | June | May–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related butterflies (Skippers)
Fiery Skipper
Silver-spotted Skipper
Huron Skipper
Zabulon Skipper
Peck's Skipper
Horace's Duskywing
Clouded Skipper
Long-tailed Skipper
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 Northern Cloudywing?
Nationally, June has the most observations, with the main season from April to July.
Where is Northern Cloudywing most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Florida, California.