Common Buckeye
Junonia coenia
Big ‘owl-eye’ spots and a habit of perching on the ground—often a late-summer visitor in our area.
Butterflies
Butterflies are beautiful and important pollinators in our region. Learn about common species in the Pacific Northwest and how to design habitat that supports them through native host plants and nectar sources.
Common Butterflies
Lorquin's Admiral
Limenitis lorquini
A bold black butterfly with a clean white band—often seen cruising along streams and wooded paths.
Mourning Cloak
Nymphalis antiopa
Dark, velvety wings with a pale border—often the first butterfly you’ll see in spring.
California Tortoiseshell
Nymphalis californica
A boom-and-bust butterfly tied to ceanothus hillsides — scarce for years, then suddenly everywhere in eruption years.
Western Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio rutulus
Big, bright, and hard to miss—our iconic yellow-and-black swallowtail of rivers and woods.
Anise Swallowtail
Papilio zelicaon
A parsley-family specialist that loves sunny meadows—often one of the first big swallowtails of spring.
Gray Hairstreak
Strymon melinus
A tiny butterfly with delicate ‘tails’ and a clever little orange spot that distracts predators.
Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui
A world-traveling butterfly—some years the Willamette Valley sees huge waves of them.
Resources for Butterflies
Field Guides
Butterflies of the Pacific Northwest — a thorough, region-specific guide.
Host & Nectar Plants
Providing host plants (for caterpillars) and a diversity of nectar sources is critical. Native plant lists and planting tips can be found at Northwest Butterflies and the Xerces Society.
Plants for Pollinators in Oregon
An Oregon guide to establishing and caring for pollinator habitat, with a focus on native bees. Covers choosing plants for local growing conditions, planning flowers through the seasons, and providing nesting areas. Also includes habitat guidance for butterflies.
Read the guide (PDF, 411 KB) · March 2008 · 26 pages
Enhancing Urban and Suburban Landscapes to Protect Pollinators
A Pacific Northwest guide to making yards, gardens, and other landscaped spaces more welcoming to pollinators. Includes plant selection, habitat care, and example garden designs, with an emphasis on areas west of the Cascades.
Read the guide (PDF, 12.8 MB) · June 2020 · 41 pages
Explore PlantNative's Oregon pollinator plant list
Includes both native and nonnative plants.
Citizen Science
Contribute sightings to iNaturalist or regional butterfly atlases to help track populations and phenology.