Beginner Lesson
How do you look at a butterfly?
Identifying a butterfly begins with learning where to look. By noticing which wing surface is visible, its approximate size, shape and distinctive markings, you can gradually narrow down the possibilities.
Method
The five-step observation method
- 1
Start with the overall appearance
Observe the approximate size, general colour, wing shape and resting position. These may not identify the species on their own, but they help place it in the correct group.
- 2
Are you seeing the upperwing or the underwing?
In many species, the upperwing and underwing look very different. Some butterflies can only be identified confidently when the underwing markings are visible.
- 3
Do not rely on colour alone
Light, camera settings, age and worn wing scales can alter colour. Identification should be based on a combination of markings rather than colour alone.
- 4
Check the wing markings in order
The position of spots, shape of bands, wing margins, veins, eyespots and underwing patterns can all be important. Reliable features differ between butterfly groups.
- 5
Use location and time as supporting evidence
The province and month of observation can help narrow down possible species. Distribution and flight period should support identification, not replace visible diagnostic features.
Field Data
What should you record during an observation?
- Province
- Month and year
- Approximate size
- Upperwing or underwing view
- Male, female or unknown
- Main visible markings
- More than one photograph when possible
Identification Confidence
Not every photograph allows a certain identification
Some butterflies can be recognised from a single photograph. Others require both upperwing and underwing views. In very similar species, a photograph may only narrow the identification to a small group.
Confident identification
Most likely
Several possible species
Insufficient photograph
Family Groups
Start with the family or main group
Instead of immediately identifying a butterfly to species level, first decide which broad group it resembles. Skippers, whites, blues, coppers, swallowtails and browns have different body shapes and wing characteristics.
Papilionidae
Coming soonSwallowtails
Large, often tailed butterflies, including swallowtails and Apollos.
Pieridae
Coming soonWhites
Familiar white and yellow butterflies of meadows and gardens.
Nymphalidae
Coming soonBrush-footed butterflies
The largest and most varied family, including fritillaries, browns, and admirals.
Lycaenidae
Coming soonBlues & Coppers
Small, often iridescent blues, coppers, and hairstreaks.
Hesperiidae
Coming soonSkippers
Fast-flying, moth-like skippers with stout bodies.
Riodinidae
Coming soonMetalmarks
A very small family with only a few representatives in this region.
Common Mistakes
Common beginner mistakes
- Choosing a species only by its general colour
- Misjudging the butterfly's real size from a photograph
- Confusing upperwing and underwing views
- Treating one marking as definitive evidence
- Forgetting that males and females may look different
- Giving location more importance than visible diagnostic features
Next step: learn wing anatomy
Once you understand the main wing regions, identification descriptions become easier to follow and diagnostic markings are easier to locate.