Swallowtail Butterfly

butterfly · colorful · tropical · giant wings

550+ species. There are more than 550 different kinds of swallowtail butterflies, making them one of the biggest butterfly families in the world. You can find them on almost every continent except Antarctica.

Brilliant colors. Swallowtails are known for their large, colorful wings and eye catching patterns. Many are bright blue, green, red, or yellow with stunning designs.

Fancy tail wings. These butterflies get their name from their hind wings, which have long, thin extensions that look like swallow bird tails. Not all species have them, but the fancy ones really stand out.

Giant wings. The biggest butterflies in the entire world are swallowtails called birdwing butterflies. Some of them have wingspans as wide as your hand is long.

Tropical homes. Most swallowtails live in warm, tropical places, but you can find them in many different habitats all over the planet. They need plants and flowers to survive.