Here you will find some history and background on the author of Butterflies of Oregon. A Bit More History Continued from "About" page... I had long paid attention to butterflies, ever since my childhood days of collecting butterflies with my Dad. When I was about 10 years old, Dad drove our family up the Steens Mountain Loop Road, and we stopped near the summit, at over 9,000 feet elevation. In the windswept, grassy meadows near the summit, there were hundreds of Milbert's Tortoiseshells flying up in the wind. I was captivated! That year, Dad bought me a butterfly net, a Golden Guide field identification guide, a killing jar, a pinning board, and a display case. The next summer, we spent several weekends driving and walking Forest Service Roads near Portland looking for butterflies with our nets in hand. Decades later, in 2001, my friend Eric Wold told me of his childhood love of butterflies, and we decided to go on a hike to Iron Mountain in Linn County to find some butterflies. On that hike I unsuccessfully attempted to photograph a bright green Sheridan's Hairstreak, and I got hooked! That first failure started me on a long and joyful journey of photographing butterflies. It was about 2014 when I realized that I had photographed around 100 species of native butterflies in Oregon. I thought to myself "I might actually be able to photograph all of them," meaning all of Oregon's regularly occurring 168 species (the exact number depends on whose taxonomic approach you follow, and how many species have been recently split or lumped). I decided that year to go to work on those remaining 68 or so species, just for fun, and to see what kind of progress I could make. In 2014 - 2017, I had a great time tromping around the wild spots in Oregon, and added several more species. In 2017, I posted a couple of butterfly photos to Facebook, and admitted to the world that I was going to try for all of Oregon's regularly breeding species. Seeing that post, my friend Lindsay Selzer inquired about where she could see all the ones I had already photographed. I sheepishly wrote her that I had never bothered to compile the collection and I actually wasn't even sure how many I had. Her question inspired me to find out the answer, which led me down the path toward creating this website to share these photos. Through that effort I realized that, of Oregon's regularly occurring and breeding species, at that time I only had about 15 more to photograph! I hadn't realized I was so close! Knowing I was so close lit a fire under me, and I began to get organized. See my blog for accounts of my most recent escapades, adventures and discoveries. Thanks for reading, and for your interest in the Butterflies of Oregon! Neil Bjorklund Eugene, Oregon

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Two-tailed Swallowtail butterfly. Mack's Canyon Boat Launch, Sherman Co, April 30 Gallery Prev Next Two-tailed Swallowtail Papilio multicaudata Size: Over 5 inches wingspan Key ID features: Very large. Upperside mostly yellow with wide bands of yellow on forewing separated by black lines, extra tails, blue chevrons on black band near hindwing margin. Below, very similar to above, with red-orange shading in yellow marginal spots near the tail. Similar species: Western Tiger Swallowtail is smaller and has broader black bands on forewing and single tails. Host plant: Primarily western choke cherry (Prunus virginiana var. demissa). Habitat: Riparian and road corridors, canyons and urban parks and gardens. Range: Throughout eastern and southwestern Oregon. Season: Late March - mid-September Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Northern Cloudywing butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Staly Creek, Lane Co, June 25 Northern Cloudywing Thorybes pylades AKA Cecropterus pylades Size: Up to 2 inch wingspan Key ID features: Above very dark brown with a few narrow white bars and spots on FW. Bars and spots translucent. Below similar to above, dark brown with with a few narrow tan or off-white bars and spots on FW. Similar species: Western Cloudywing flies notably faster, perches on rocks, has shorter white sub-cell bar in FW. Host plant: Many legume species, but often associated with Lotus crassifolius in Oregon . Habitat: Canyons, clearings and flowery flatlands. Range: Cascade Range, Eastern Blue Mtns, Wallowa Mtns, Siskiyou Mtns, Klamath Mtns, Warner Mtns. Season: Late April to mid-July Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Gillett's Checkerspot butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Oregon State Arthropod Collection, #000176215 - male Thank you to Dana Ross and Paul Hammond , volunteers at OSAC! Gillett's Checkerspot Euphydryas gillettii Size: Up to 2 inch wingspan Key ID features: Above black with red and white spots, wide red band through both wings, usually with narrow white bands on both sides. Below similar pattern, but with black reduced, and confined to narrow lines between red and white patches. Similar species: This is the only Oregon checkerspot with wide red submarginal spot bands above. Host plant: Species in the honeysuckle family, possibly black twinberry (Lonicera involucrata ) and red twinberry (L. utahensis ) . Habitat: High flowery meadows. Often occurs near small streams or wetlands, not straying far from its host plants and nectar sources. Range: On the summit of the west rim of Snake River Canyon near Hat Point . Season: Late June to early July Abundance: Uncommon Conservation Status: Secure in other states. Survival of colonies may depend on wildfire interrupting habitat succession. Current Oregon population unknown.

Here you will find the most valuable field guides and printed information sources for butterflies in Oregon and Lane County. Resources: Books New All-Color 5th Edition Finding Lane County Butterflies 5th Edition now Available ! The new 5th Edition is a significant overhaul of the original book, with 5 new important sites added, 45 new color photos, 10 new color maps, and hundreds of clarifications and improvements throughout. It now includes 30 of the best sites for butterflies in Lane County (and a few just over the line in Linn County). For each site, it describes when to go, how to get there, and which species you are likely to find there. Using this guide, you can, with some luck, find most of Lane County's more than 100 species. Order yours now from the Lane County Butterfly Club. 100% of sales proceeds benefit the Lane County Butterfly Club. Butterflies of Lane County When it was first released in 2002, this pocket-sized field ID guide to the butterflies of Lane County, Oregon was the first of its kind. Other similar "pocket guides" have appeared around the country as publishers realize that people don't want to carry around a 5-pound book in the field. This guide will be replaced by an all new field identification guide that covers all of the Willamette Valley and adjoining foothills-planned to be released in 2026. Sold through the Lane County Butterfly Club. Proceeds from sales benefit the Lane County Butterfly Club. Available from Lane County Butterfly Club . This is the definitive guide for identifying the butterflies of Oregon and Washington. It's chock-full of information about each species, with maps, history, biological information and more. It won't fit in your pocket, but you'll want a copy for reference anyway. Available from Amazon.com . Butterflies of the Pacific Northwest By Robert Michael Pyle and Caitlin LaBar. This is the latest and most comprehensive guide for identifying the butterflies of Oregon and Washington. It's chock-full of information about each species, with maps, history, biological information and more. It won't fit in your pocket, but you'll definitely want a copy anyway. Available from Amazon.com . Butterflies of the Pacific Northwest This is the definitive guide for identifying the butterflies of Oregon and Washington. It's chock-full of information about each species, with maps, history, biological information and more. It won't fit in your pocket, but you'll want a copy for reference anyway. Available from Amazon.com . Butterflies of Oregon Their Taxonomy, Distribution, and Biology By Andrew Warren. This thorough scientific work provides the most in-depth coverage of Oregon's butterfly species and set the groundwork for taxonomy studies and books that followed it. For a deeper dive into Oregon's butterflies, this is your "go to" source. Available from Amazon.com . Warren Book Pocket Guide to the Butterflies of Washington, 3rd ed By Caitlin LaBar. This is a great field guide for identifying the butterflies of Washington. So small and light there's no reason not to take it into the field with you! Available from Amazon.com .

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Anicia Checkerspot butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Arizona Cr, Pueblo Mtns, Harney Co, June 2 Anicia Checkerspot Euphydryas anicia Size: Up to 2.25 inch wingspan Key ID features: Highly variable. Above black with red and white spot bands, marginal band of red spots. Below bands of white and red spots edged thinly in black, crossed by black veins. sometimes more white than red, marginal band is red, fringes checked. On hindwing below (starting at margin) pattern of bands is usually red-white-red-white -white. Similar species: Edith's checkerspot has red-white-red-red -white band pattern on HW below (starting at margin). Chalcedona Checkerspot has ivory spots above instead of white, and is larger. Snowberry Checkerspot is typically blacker above, with rounder wing shape. Host plant: Members of the figwort family, including penstemons and paintbrushes . Habitat: Sage-steppe, arid high grasslands, canyons. Range: In high desert east of the Cascade Range, from Warner Mtns to Steens Mtn up to broad swath along Deschutes River. Also in highlands west of the Snake River . Season: Mid-March to mid-August Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Johnson's Hairstreak butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Deception Creek, Lane Co, June 26 Johnson's Hairstreak Callophrys johnsoni Size: 1.25 - 1.5 inches wingspan Key ID features: Above both sexes brown. Below chocolate brown. Long tails on HW. White median line containing flattened "W" near white-tipped tails, and submarginal row of black spots (sometimes vague) along half of trailing margin of HW. Similar species: Thicket HS has more prominent "W" (or "M") in white median line, is blue above, and submarginal spots on HW below run entire length of trailing margin. Host plant: Dwarf mistletoes that grow on Western Hemlock and Grand fir (in the Cascade Range) and on Ponderosa Pine (in the Blue Mountains). Habitat: Clearings in old growth coniferous forest (Ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, western hemlock, grand fir). Range: Cascade Range, Siskiyou Mtns, and in the Blue Mtns in Baker and Union counties. Season: Mid-May to early September Abundance: Uncommon Conservation Status: Oregon State Species of Concern

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for Riding's Satyr. Gallery Prev Next Light Peak, Warner Mtns, Lake Co, July 14 Ridings' Satyr Neominois ridingsii Size: Up to 2 inch wingspan Key ID features: Above sandy gray-brown with elongated light tan to white patches on FW containing black eyespots with white centers. Sometimes one small eyespot on HW above. Below similar to above, but with HW having a more grizzled look crossed by zigzag dark lines and light vein lines. Very cryptic and difficult to spot when perched with wings closed. Similar species: None. Host plant: Grasses, but no specific species identified in Oregon . Habitat: Grassy habitats including sage-steppe, plateaus, montane meadows and dry hillsides. Range: Millican Flats area near Pine Mtn in Crook and Deschutes counties, Light Peak in Warner Mtns, Pueblo Mtns, Trout Creek Mtns. Season: Late June to mid-August Abundance: Uncommon Conservation Status: Secure

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Mormon Fritillary butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Summit Meadows, Lane Co, August 13 Mormon Fritillary Argynnis mormonia AKA Speyeria mormonia Size: Up to 2 inch wingspan Key ID features: Small for a greater fritillary. Male bright orange above with fine black veins, black irregular markings inwardly, submarginal black spot band and black arrows that point inward. Female darker orange above with all black markings bolder. Below ground color of "disc" on HW light orange-tan with large oblong silvery-white spots with brown to dark maroon shadows. Similar species: Hesperis is larger and has reddish brown disc below. Hydaspe is larger and has dark red to maroon disc below. Hostplant: Violet (Viola ) species . Habitat: Openings, riparian areas and meadows in coniferous forests above 3,500 feet. Range: Found on east slope of Cascades, and in Warner Mtns, Steens Mtn, Ochocos, Wallowa Mtns and Blue Mtns. Season: Early June to mid-October. Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

on iNaturalist Join the revolution! On the iNaturalist.org website, there is a Butterflies of Oregon Project that collects and displays all of the photos of butterflies submitted from Oregon. There are now over 30,000 photos of butterflies from Oregon, and the number of people submitting butterfly photos from Oregon is growing every year! You can view the most recent Oregon butterflies posted to iNaturalist at right, or go directly to the Butterflies of Oregon Project page. Note: the links at right to the individual iNaturalist posts only work if you right-click the link and select "open in a new tab" or "open in a new window." iNaturalist.org has the largest online collection of recent records of butterfly sightings, and the largest number of users, and has emerged as the best place to both share your sightings and get help identifying them. By contributing your photos of Oregon butterflies to iNaturalist, you are making them available to others for learning, study and pleasure. Being part of this community of naturalists benefits everyone involved. recent Oregon sightings: View additional recent Oregon butterfly sightings on iNaturalist.org.

Photos, flight season, distribution and host plant information, conservation status, and identification tips for the Hedgerow Hairstreak butterfly. Gallery Prev Next Crooked Cr, Lake Co, August 6 - female Hedgerow Hairstreak Satyrium saepium Size: 1.0 - 1.25 inches wingspan Key ID features: Coppery-brown above. Gray-brown below (darker when very fresh) with broken median line, and vague submarginal band of black chevrons on HW. Relatively short tails, with blue frosted patch just below. Similar species: Somewhat similar to Mtn Mahogany HS, which is more gray or gray-frosted over brown below. Gold-Hunter's HS has a less clear and less defined median line on HW below, and has a very restricted range. Host plant: Ceanothus species, including C. cuneatus (Buckbrush), C. velutinus (Snowbrush) and C. integerrimus (Deerbrush) . Habitat: Shrubby hillsides and canyons, oak scrub, chaparral where host plants grow. Range: NE Oregon, SW Oregon, Cascade Range. Season: Mid-May to late September Abundance: Common Conservation Status: Secure

This page provides background on the Butterflies of Oregon website, and about the photography, the author/photographer, and the purpose and history of ButterfliesofOregon.com. This site will be updated periodically each year, so please visit often! The Project Butterflies of Oregon is both an online guide to Oregon's butterfly species and a record of my endeavor to photograph all of Oregon's regularly occurring and breeding described butterfly species inside the borders of the state. As I continue to pursue images of those remaining species that have as yet eluded me and my camera, I plan to use the website, the information I’ve collected, and the stories about the butterflies and the photos to educate interested folks about native butterflies in Oregon, their habitats, their ecology and their conservation. Public presentations, and educational publications are likely to come with time. Check back here for updates or sign up to be notified of new Blog entries. The Photos All of the photographs of live butterflies in this website were taken by myself, Neil Bjorklund, of wild, un-manipulated butterflies, within the borders of Oregon. These photos are the best images sifted from my library of more than 10,0 00 photos of butterflies in Oregon (as of fall 2023). Considering all the photos that weren't high enough quality to keep, it’s safe to say I’ve taken something like 12,000-15,000 photos of butterflies in Oregon to produce this set of about 300! The images of pinned butterflies from the Oregon State Arthropod Collection were taken by me and by Dana Ross, lepidopterist extraordinaire, with support from Paul Hammond who selected the specimens for us. Thank you, Dana and Paul! I took the live butterfly images primarily in the years 2002-2006 and 2014-2023, so over about 13 years (as of 2023). I have experimented with a variety of cameras and lenses over the years. I began the switch to digital photography in 2003 with my beloved Nikon CoolPix E995. The lion’s share of the photos were taken with these four digital set-ups: FujiFilm X-T1/X-T3 / X-T4 with a Fuji 80 mm F2.8 Macro Lens Sony RX10 Mark IV Canon PowerShot SX50 HS Nikon CoolPix E995 The Photographer I am an Oregon boy through and through, born and raised in SW Portland. The earliest I can remember attempting butterfly photos was on a family vacation in California in about 1968, and my images of Pipevine Swallowtails along the side of Highway 99 taken with my little plastic camera didn't come out very well. Eight years later (1976) I got my first "real" camera - a spiffy Nikormat FT3 SLR! With that camera I took my first decent photograph of a butterfly in Green Bay, Wisconsin in 1979—a Common Buckeye on the shore of Green Bay. Click the "More"button below to see that photo and read more history. More