Two-tailed Swallowtail
Arizona’s enormous yellow state butterfly patrols canyon streams and gardens, flashing black tiger stripes and two tails on each hindwing.
Artwork inspired by Dyana Hesson
One of the continent’s largest butterflies, it is yellow with bold black tiger stripes, blue and orange hindwing marks, and two narrow tails on each hindwing. Worn individuals may lose a tail.
Watch flowering shrubs and damp canyon ground in warm daylight. Females visit larval host trees briefly, while males may patrol ridges and watercourses. Photograph without netting or handling. Plant regionally appropriate nectar and host plants, and avoid broad-spectrum insecticides.
- Primary state
- Arizona
- Status
- Arizona state butterfly; widespread western species
- Range
- United States and Canada and Mexico
Quick guide
- First decision
- Huge yellow butterfly with black stripes and two tails per hindwing
- Context check
- wing pattern and antennae; context: Canyon streams, gardens, woodland edges, and desert cities with ash, hop tree, or other larval hosts
Read Two-tailed Swallowtail in four field decisions
- Establish the whole form
- Begin with Huge yellow butterfly with black stripes and two tails per hindwing.
- Separate the nearest alternative
- Confirm wing pattern and antennae before settling on the identification.
- Add ecological context
- Canyon streams, gardens, woodland edges, and desert cities with ash, hop tree; adults mainly spring through early autumn.
- Leave the evidence intact
- Do not reposition, collect, bait, pursue, or clear vegetation around Two-tailed Swallowtail.
Good to know
The strongest Two-tailed Swallowtail record preserves the distinction between “Huge yellow butterfly with black stripes and two tails per hindwing” and “wing pattern and antennae” while also showing the surrounding habitat.
Notice these
- Huge yellow butterfly with black stripes and two tails per hindwing