Two-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata) is in the Swallowtails and Parnassians family (Papilionidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 12,270 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
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 Two-tailed Swallowtail: observations by month (U.S.)
About Two-tailed Swallowtail
Papilio multicaudata, the two-tailed swallowtail, is a species of the family Papilionidae found in western North America from British Columbia to Central America.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Two-tailed Swallowtail by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 2,911 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Texas | 2,569 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Arizona | 1,681 | August | Jun–Sep |
| New Mexico | 1,679 | July | Apr–Aug |
| Utah | 1,017 | June | May–Aug |
| California | 537 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Idaho | 356 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Washington | 324 | July | May–Aug |
| Oregon | 296 | July | May–Aug |
| Montana | 294 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Wyoming | 236 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Nevada | 187 | July | May–Aug |
| Nebraska | 107 | June | May–Aug |
| South Dakota | 47 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Oklahoma | 16 | May | Apr–Aug |
| North Dakota | 7 | June | May–Aug |
| Kansas | 5 | May | Apr–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related butterflies (Swallowtails and Parnassians)
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Pipevine Swallowtail
Black Swallowtail
Spicebush Swallowtail
Eastern Giant Swallowtail
Western Tiger Swallowtail
Zebra Swallowtail
Anise Swallowtail
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 Two-tailed Swallowtail?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from April to September.
Where is Two-tailed Swallowtail most often seen?
The most observations come from Colorado, Texas, Arizona.