Birdwing Butterflies

butterflies · tropical Asia · giant insects · swallowtails

Massive wing span. Birdwings are the largest butterflies in the world, with some species having wingspans wider than your hand is long. They are named for their huge, angular wings that look nothing like typical delicate butterfly wings.

Flight like birds. These butterflies flap their big wings in a way that makes them look like flying birds rather than fragile insects. Their powerful, birdlike movement is how they got their cool name.

Tropical treasures. Birdwings live across tropical Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australia where it is warm and wet year round. You would find them in rainforests and jungles, never in cold places.

Scientific sorting. Scientists sort birdwings into three main groups: Trogonoptera, Troides, and Ornithoptera. Around 36 different species exist, though scientists still debate exactly how many there really are.

Special swallowtail cousins. Birdwings belong to the swallowtail butterfly family, which is known for elegant butterflies with tail-like extensions on their wings.