There are 81 species of butterflies you can find in Windsor County, Vermont. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in Windsor County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:
Brush-footed Butterflies in Windsor County, Vermont
‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple
The ‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright red spot on its upperside. This butterfly is found in open woodlands, fields, and meadows, where it feeds on nectar from flowers.
American Lady
A female American Lady butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The wings are black with white markings. The butterflies live in meadows, woodlands, and other areas with tall grass.
American Snout
The American Snout butterfly is a small butterfly with a long nose. It is a common butterfly in eastern North America. The butterfly’s habitat is open fields, meadows, and forests.
Aphrodite Fritillary
Aphrodite Fritillary butterflies have a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are mostly green and have a metallic sheen. They live in meadows and other grassy areas, but may be found near streams and ponds as well.
Atlantis Fritillary
The Atlantis Fritillary butterfly is a small butterfly that is mostly blue with a yellow and black band across its wings. They live in open areas such as meadows, prairies, and forests.
Baltimore Checkerspot
The Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found throughout the eastern United States. They are typically blue or black with yellow and orange markings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as fields, meadows, and forests.
Common Buckeye
The Common Buckeye butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to four inches. They are commonly found in open areas such as fields, woods, and meadows. They feed on nectar from flowers.
Common Ringlet
The Common Ringlet butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about one inch. They have a bright blue or green wings with white stripes. They are usually found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and gardens.
Common Wood-Nymph
The Common Wood-Nymph butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is a light brown butterfly with a white spot on the wings. The Common Wood-Nymph butterfly lives in woodlands and gardens.
Compton Tortoiseshell
The Compton Tortoiseshell butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright yellow and black colour scheme. They are often seen flying around in oak and other woodland habitats.
Eastern Comma
The Eastern Comma butterfly is a small, brown and black butterfly. It has a wingspan of about 1-1.5 inches. The Eastern Comma butterfly lives in moist forests and nearby meadows.
Eyed Brown
Eyed brown butterflies have brown and black markings on their wings. They inhabit open fields and gardens, and can be found during the day flying around.
Gray Comma
A Gray Comma butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly. It has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The wings are a rich chocolate brown with a gray comma mark on the wings. The butterfly is found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows, woodlands, and prairies.
Great Spangled Fritillary
The Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a large wingspan. They are typically found in open forests, but can be found in other areas as well. They are very active fliers and are known for their colorful wings.
Green Comma
The Green Comma butterfly is a small, green butterfly with black markings on its wings. They are common in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields.
Hackberry Emperor
The Hackberry Emperor butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of nearly two inches. It is the largest of all the monarch butterflies and is found in the eastern United States, from Texas to Maine. The Hackberry Emperor butterfly is most commonly found in deciduous and mixed woods, but can also be found in urban areas.
Harris’ Checkerspot
A Harris’ Checkerspot butterfly looks like a delicate, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of around one and a half inches. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers to feed on, such as meadows and prairies.
Little Wood-Satyr
A Little Wood-Satyr butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The butterfly is mostly brown with a few white spots on the wings. The butterflies live in forests and woodlands.
Meadow Fritillary
A Meadow Fritillary butterfly has a delicate wingspan of about 1.5 inches and a bright yellow and brown body. They are found in open meadows and fields, where they lay their eggs on the underside of leaves.
Milbert’s Tortoiseshell
Milbert’s Tortoiseshell butterflies are small, brown butterflies that can be found in a variety of habitats, including deciduous and coniferous forests, meadows, and gardens.
Monarch
The Monarch butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of up to 3 inches. They are found in warm, sunny areas throughout the United States and southern Canada. They usually feed on flowers, but will occasionally eat other small creatures. The Monarch butterfly’s habitat varies depending on the season, but it is typically found near forests, rivers, and other sources of water.
Mourning Cloak
A Mourning Cloak butterfly is typically dark brown with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are found in open areas near water, such as meadows and prairies.
Northern Crescent
Northern Crescent butterflies are light brown with dark brown spots on their wings. They prefer areas with lots of flowering plants, such as meadows and gardens.
Northern Pearly-eye
Northern Pearly-eye butterflies are typically a light brown with a white spot on their wing. They are found in forests and other areas with dense vegetation.
Painted Lady
The Painted Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright yellow and black wings. They are found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and woodlands. They prefer to live near running water and flower gardens.
Pearl Crescent
The Pearl Crescent butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a yellow and black wing pattern. They prefer to live in open, grassy areas with lots of flowers.
Question Mark
The Question Mark butterfly is a large butterfly with a black and yellow body. It is found in open areas with lots of flowers, especially Asteraceae plants.
Red Admiral
The Red Admiral butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. The wings are a rich red, and the butterfly has a white spot on each wing. The butterfly is found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and gardens.
Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral
The Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to two feet. They are mostly orange with a series of black spots on their wings. They are common in open areas such as fields and meadows, but can also be found in forests.
Silver-bordered Fritillary
The Silver-bordered Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen on its wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and forests. They are considered a threatened species and are in danger of extinction.
Silvery Checkerspot
The Silvery Checkerspot butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about three inches. It is a resident of the eastern U.S., and its habitat includes open forests, woodlands, and parks.
Tawny Emperor
A Tawny Emperor butterfly looks like a large, brightly-colored butterfly with a wingspan of up to two inches. They are found in tropical and subtropical areas of the world, and prefer open, sunny areas with plenty of flowering plants. They are common in gardens and parks, and can be found fluttering around flowers in the early morning and late afternoon.
Variegated Fritillary
Variegated Fritillary butterflies have green and brown wings. They live in the forests of North America.
Viceroy
A Viceroy butterfly has a wingspan of about two inches and is a light brown and black color. They are found in tropical regions of the world and feed on nectar from flowers.
White Admiral
The White Admiral butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in many different habitats. They can be found in warm climates, such as in the United States, but they can also be found in colder climates. They like to live in forests, meadows, and gardens.
Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Windsor County, Vermont
Acadian Hairstreak
A Acadian Hairstreak butterfly looks like a small, brightly colored butterfly with a characteristic hairstreak pattern on its wings. It inhabits open, grassy areas near streams and lakes, and is common in the eastern part of North America.
American Copper
The American Copper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen. It is common in open areas, such as fields and meadows, but can also be found in gardens and orchards.
Banded Hairstreak
The Banded Hairstreak butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is a bright orange with black bands. It lives in wooded areas and has a preference for open areas with lots of flowers.
Bronze Copper
Bronze Copper butterflies are metallic blue with bronze wings. They are found in open areas like fields, meadows, and forests.
Cherry Gall Azure
A Cherry Gall Azure butterfly is a beautiful blue butterfly with a white spot on its wing. They are most commonly found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, fields, or forests.
Coral Hairstreak
The Coral Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in many different habitats, such as forests, meadows, and even gardens. They are usually seen flitting around and landing on flowers, but can also be seen flying in circles.
Early Hairstreak
Early Hairstreak butterflies have bright colors and often have a wingspan of about 1 inch. They live in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests.
Eastern Pine Elfin
Eastern Pine Elfin butterflies are small, colorful butterflies that can be found in wet forests across eastern North America. These butterflies feed on nectar from flowers, and are most active in the morning and early evening.
Eastern Tailed-Blue
Eastern Tailed-Blue butterflies are brightly coloured and have a blue-green wingspan. They are found in open habitats, such as fields and meadows, and are migratory.
Gray Hairstreak
The Gray Hairstreak butterfly is a small butterfly with a gray body and a bright blue-violet head. They are found in open, grassy areas and are most active during the morning and evening.
Harvester
The Harvester butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a dark brown and yellow wings. It is found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests.
Hickory Hairstreak
A Hickory Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the forests of the eastern United States. The butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches and a bright orange body with black markings. The butterfly’s wings are decorated with black spots and the butterfly frequents open areas near trees where it can find nectar.
Northern Azure
Northern Azure butterflies are blue with a white crescent on the wing. They live in the grasslands and prairies of North America.
Silvery Blue
The Silvery Blue butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen. They are common visitors to gardens, but can also be found in nature near bodies of water.
Striped Hairstreak
A Striped Hairstreak butterfly looks like a delicate butterfly with a striped pattern on its wings. They live in open habitats with lots of flowers, such as meadows, forests, and gardens.
Summer Azure
A Summer Azure butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright blue wingspan. They are most commonly found in open grasslands and meadows, but can also be found in gardens and parks. They are active during the day, but are attracted to dark areas and are also known to come close to people.
Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Windsor County, Vermont
Black Swallowtail
Black Swallowtail butterflies are dark brown and have a swallowtail shape. They live in forests, and feed on nectar from flowers.
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail
A Canadian Tiger Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful, brightly-colored butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. They are common to find in open, grassy areas, preferably near streams or other bodies of water. They are attracted to light, so they are often seen perched on flowers near the water’s edge.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterflies are beautiful creatures with iridescent blue, green, and black wings. They are typically found in open areas with tall trees and flowers, such as meadows and forests.
Giant Swallowtail
The Giant Swallowtail butterfly is one of the largest butterflies in the world, with a wingspan up to 3.5 inches. They are found in warm climates, often near bodies of water. They eat flowers, and can be found in open fields, meadows, and forests.
Spicebush Swallowtail
Spicebush Swallowtail butterflies are small, brown and black butterflies that can be found in open, forested areas. They prefer to live near spice bushes, where they feed on nectar and pollen.
Skipper Butterflies in Windsor County, Vermont
Arctic Skipper
Arctic Skippers are usually a light brown or tan color with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are found in cold climates such as northern Canada and Siberia. They are most commonly found in moist woodlands and meadows, but can also be found near water.
Common Roadside-Skipper
A Common Roadside-Skipper butterfly looks like a small, dark brown or black butterfly with a white band across its wings. They are found in open areas near roadways, where they feed on nectar from flowers.
Crossline Skipper
The Crossline Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It has a white cross line on each wing. The butterfly lives in meadows, pastures, and other open areas with flowers.
Delaware Skipper
The Delaware Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that lives in open areas near water.
Dreamy Duskywing
The Dreamy Duskywing butterfly is a small black and white butterfly. They are found in a variety of habitats, including forests, fields, and wetlands.
Dun Skipper
The Dun Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically light brown or light tan with dark markings. They are found in many different habitats including meadows, forests, and gardens.
European Skipper
The European Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in a variety of habitats, such as meadows, gardens, and forests. The butterfly is usually dark brown or black, with a green or blue pattern along its wings.
Hobomok Skipper
The Hobomok Skipper butterfly is a small, brown and black butterfly. They are usually seen flying around in open areas such as meadows, but they can also be found in forests. They are attracted to flowers, but are also known to feed on nectar from other plants.
Indian Skipper
The Indian Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about one inch. The wings are a bright orange color and the butterfly has black and orange stripes on its wings. The butterfly is found in the tropical forests of India and Sri Lanka.
Juvenal’s Duskywing
The Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly is a black and brown butterfly with a yellow band across the middle of its wings. They live in forests and woodlands.
Least Skipper
The Least Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is often seen flying around flowers. They are usually found in open areas such as fields or meadows.
Leonard’s Skipper
The Leonard’s Skipper butterfly is a brightly colored butterfly with a yellow and black band across its wings. The butterfly is found in open spaces, such as meadows and fields, and is usually seen flying low to the ground.
Little Glassywing
The Little Glassywing butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. The butterfly has a thin membrane covering its wings, which gives it a translucent appearance. The butterfly is found in open areas including prairies, meadows, and forests.
Long Dash
A Long Dash butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of about one foot. It is mostly black with a yellow band across its wings. The butterfly lives in tropical forests and often rests on the tips of large branches.
Northern Broken-Dash
Northern Broken-Dash butterflies are small, brightly colored butterflies that live in open areas near water. They are usually seen in dense stands of flowers, such as lupines or dandelions.
Northern Cloudywing
Northern Cloudywings are a beautiful butterfly that can often be found near dense forest or overgrown areas. They are usually a light blue or purple color with a darker blue or purple band across their wings. They are often seen flitting around in the trees waiting for a chance to feed.
Peck’s Skipper
The Peck’s Skipper butterfly is a small, brown butterfly with light stripes on its wings. It is found in open habitats, such as grasslands and meadows, and is most common in the Eastern United States.
Pepper and Salt Skipper
The Pepper and Salt Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically orange or brown in color. They are found in coastal areas and are known to be attracted to salt licks.
Silver-spotted Skipper
The Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly has a metallic sheen to its wings and is usually found in open areas such as meadows, pastures, and fields. It is also common to find Silver-spotted Skippers in woodland and urban areas.
Tawny-edged Skipper
The Tawny-edged Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It has a rusty brown edge to its wings and is common in open woodlands and gardens.
White and Sulphur Butterflies in Windsor County, Vermont
Cabbage White
The Cabbage White butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about one inch. The wings are a light green and the butterfly has a white marking on its wings that is shaped like a cabbage leaf. The butterfly lives in open habitats, such as meadows, fields, and pastures, and is attracted to flowers.
Clouded Sulphur
The Clouded Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in a variety of habitats, including forests, fields, and meadows. They are usually seen flitting around in the air, but they can also be seen crawling on the ground.
Mustard White
A Mustard White butterfly is a delicate looking butterfly that is typically light yellow or white in color with a dark brown or black border around the wings. They are usually found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests, but can also be found in urban areas. Mustard Whites are attracted to flowers, but can also be found feeding on nectar from other plants.
Orange Sulphur
A Orange Sulphur butterfly has bright orange wings and body, with black markings on the wings. They are found in open areas with lots of herbs and flowers, usually near water.
Pink-edged Sulphur
The Pink-edged Sulphur butterfly is a butterfly with a bright pink wing edge. They are found in open, grassy areas with some flowers.
That’s the end of our look at the butterflies in Windsor County, Vermont. Interested in learning about more butterflies in Vermont? We have lists for each of the 14 counties in the state.