I have often said that the reason I blog about birds is because birds happen to be the animal that is plentiful in my backyard. If tigers were roaming about the property, then they would be the featured creatures.
Well, yesterday I did have the chance to take a picture of a beautiful tiger right in my own front yard…a Tiger Swallowtail that is!
Here are ten pictures of this lovely lady, and a handful of cool butterfly facts.
Did you know that butterflies wings are clear, but are covered with tons of teeny tiny scales that create their color patterns? (This fact came courtesy of Stokes Butterfly Book – a worthy purchase!)
Did you know that butterflies bask in the sun to absorb heat? They fly best when their body temperatures are between 85-100 degrees.
Did you know that butterflies taste with their feet, smell with their antennae, and soak up nectar through a tube-like tongue called a proboscis? In the picture below, the proboscis is curled up like a crazy straw.
Did you know that the lifespan of an adult butterfly is only about two weeks? Such beauty for such a short time!
She really is breathtaking. And if you don’t have a butterfly bush, you must plant one!
Backyard Bird Nerd 
What beautiful swallowtails! I collected and studied Butterflies as a young boy and always have enjoyed seeing them.Your photos are true delight Kathy:-)
It’s still a bit early in the butterfly season, so I was happy this lovely lady paid a visit. 🙂
Wow, Kathy! These are such tremendous images. I hope you are submitting them to Birds and Blooms! I may try sketching or painting these, not because I think I can do them justice, but because they are totally irresistible. Sharing with Hub too. Thank you, dear friend! ❤
I was so happy that she was content to flit about from flower to flower and didn’t seem in a hurry to leave. 🙂
They all love you!!!
Great photos. Wonderful series.
Thank you!
OOOO MMMMM GGGGGG – Beautiful!!! Love the first and last one especially!
I stood out there with my camera and was mesmerized by her. 🙂
I can only imagine!!!!
WOW, what detail you captured! Great job, Kathy!
Thanks. She was a delightful subject to work with. 🙂
Oh My!! What a excellent compositions 😍 very lovely! Loved the contrast in each frame 💕
I enjoyed my visit with her immensely. 🙂
Beautiful photos and some cool facts I didn’t know.
Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Great photos Kathy.
We have Butterfly Bushes in our garden here in Melbourne Australia. The small nectar feeding birds also like them.
I hope you have many visitors to your butterfly bush when the season arrives!
What a beauty, and splendid photography!
She really was quite a beauty.
She, he, it is breathtaking…as are your pictures.
Thanks…this one was a she…more colorful than the male. 🙂
What amazing photographs! I had a bush like yours once and it did attract butterflies but generally Red Admirals here.
Oooh…I would love to take pictures of a Red Admiral.
They are quite common round here. Though now with such a small garden I mainly see cabbage whites. 😦
I just saw a Western Tiger Swallowtail in my Oak tree! I wasn’t able to get such AMAZING photos as you did! I’m going to paint one today for my art journal! Thanks Kathy! 💕😃
Hope you post it!
I will! I did not get it done yesterday but hope to finish it today. They are complicated to draw! Lol! 😉
Thanks for all the education in this post! And yes, she is truly gorgeous!
First thing next week I plan to visit the butterfly garden at the Holden Arboretum. Hopefully I will have some pictures to post from there soon. Your “tigers” are beautiful.