Fender’s Blue Butterfly
Fender’s Blue Butterfly is recognizable by a small blue butterfly; males are brighter blue while females are brown with blue scaling.
Artwork inspired by Maude Kerns
It occurs in upland prairie and oak savanna containing Kincaid’s lupine; combine anatomy, season, and habitat because a name or single photograph is not enough when related species overlap. Threatened after major recovery progress; habitat remains highly fragmented.
Stay outside restoration plots and private land. Look for april–June in Willamette Valley prairie. Kincaid’s lupine is essential breeding habitat.
- Primary range
- Oregon
- Habitat
- upland prairie
- Status
- Threatened after major recovery progress
Quick guide
- Find host plant
- Kincaid’s lupine is essential breeding habitat.
- Use binoculars
- Avoid chasing butterflies through fragile prairie.
Field marks for Fender’s Blue Butterfly
- Shape and posture
- Small blue butterfly.
- Close detail
- Upland prairie and oak savanna containing Kincaid’s lupine.
- Host and habitat
- Confirm that Kincaid’s lupine and intact prairie occur together before treating habitat as supporting evidence.
- Timing and restraint
- Stay outside restoration plots and private land.
Good to know
Threatened after major recovery progress; habitat remains highly fragmented. Protect Fender’s Blue Butterfly by observing a small blue butterfly; males are brighter blue while females are brown with blue scaling from durable ground, leaving upland prairie and oak savanna containing Kincaid’s lupine undisturbed, and sharing sensitive coordinates only with conservation staff.
Notice these
- A small blue butterfly; males are brighter blue while females are brown with blue scaling
- upland prairie and oak savanna containing Kincaid’s lupine
- April–June in Willamette Valley prairie