Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius) is in the Gossamer-winged Butterflies family (Lycaenidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 2,235 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Oak Hairstreak: observations by month (U.S.)
About Oak Hairstreak
Satyrium favonius, the oak hairstreak or southern hairstreak, is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in the United States from southern New England and the Atlantic Coast south to peninsular Florida and west to central Illinois, south-eastern Colorado and the Gulf Coast.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Oak Hairstreak by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 1,424 | May | Apr–May |
| Florida | 468 | April | Apr–May |
| South Carolina | 45 | May | Apr–May |
| Georgia | 42 | May | May–May |
| North Carolina | 38 | May | May–May |
| Louisiana | 29 | April | Apr–May |
| New York | 28 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Virginia | 22 | May | May–Jun |
| Massachusetts | 21 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Alabama | 14 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Maryland | 14 | May | May–Jun |
| Ohio | 14 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Mississippi | 13 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Illinois | 11 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Arkansas | 10 | May | May–May |
| New Jersey | 9 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Oklahoma | 6 | May | May–May |
| Pennsylvania | 5 | June | May–Jun |
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 Oak Hairstreak?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from April to May.
Where is Oak Hairstreak most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Florida, South Carolina.