26 butterflies were recorded flying in Washington in March in our iNaturalist sample; 0 of the top 50 are at their peak this month. The list is ranked by number of research-grade observations.
Top butterflies in March
California Tortoiseshell
Mourning Cloak
Satyr Comma
Echo Azure
Small White
Milbert's Tortoiseshell
Gray Hairstreak
Green Comma
Becker's White
Hoary Comma
Margined White
Painted Lady
All butterflies flying in Washington in March
| # | Species | Scientific name | Family | Obs. | Peak in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Tortoiseshell | Nymphalis californica | Brush-footed Butterflies | 160 | Jul (rising) |
| 2 | Mourning Cloak | Nymphalis antiopa | Brush-footed Butterflies | 142 | Apr (rising) |
| 3 | Satyr Comma | Polygonia satyrus | Brush-footed Butterflies | 85 | Apr (rising) |
| 4 | Echo Azure | Celastrina echo | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 43 | Apr (rising) |
| 5 | Small White | Pieris rapae | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 33 | Jul (rising) |
| 6 | Milbert's Tortoiseshell | Aglais milberti | Brush-footed Butterflies | 26 | Jul (rising) |
| 7 | Gray Hairstreak | Strymon melinus | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 25 | Aug (rising) |
| 8 | Green Comma | Polygonia faunus | Brush-footed Butterflies | 16 | Sep (rising) |
| 9 | Becker's White | Pontia beckerii | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 11 | Jul (rising) |
| 10 | Hoary Comma | Polygonia gracilis | Brush-footed Butterflies | 10 | Aug (rising) |
| 11 | Margined White | Pieris marginalis | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 7 | Jul (rising) |
| 12 | Painted Lady | Vanessa cardui | Brush-footed Butterflies | 4 | May (rising) |
| 13 | Red Admiral | Vanessa atalanta | Brush-footed Butterflies | 4 | Jul (rising) |
| 14 | Silvery Blue | Glaucopsyche lygdamus | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 3 | May (rising) |
| 15 | Brown Elfin | Callophrys augustinus | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 3 | May (rising) |
| 16 | Propertius Duskywing | Erynnis propertius | Skippers | 3 | May (rising) |
| 17 | Clouded Sulphur | Colias philodice | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 2 | Aug (rising) |
| 18 | Western Pine Elfin | Callophrys eryphon | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 2 | May (rising) |
| 19 | Lorquin's Admiral | Limenitis lorquini | Brush-footed Butterflies | 1 | Jun (rising) |
| 20 | Orange Sulphur | Colias eurytheme | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 1 | Sep (rising) |
| 21 | Viceroy | Limenitis archippus | Brush-footed Butterflies | 1 | Aug (rising) |
| 22 | Pacific Fritillary | Boloria epithore | Brush-footed Butterflies | 1 | Jul (rising) |
| 23 | Sagebrush Checkerspot | Chlosyne acastus | Brush-footed Butterflies | 1 | May (rising) |
| 24 | Pine White | Neophasia menapia | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 1 | Aug (rising) |
| 25 | Western White | Pontia occidentalis | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 1 | Jul (rising) |
| 26 | Common Checkered-Skipper | Burnsius communis | Skippers | 1 | Jul (rising) |