The Sara Orangetip is a vivid western spring butterfly with males bearing brilliant orange forewing tips and green-marbled hindwing undersides. It is one of the most beautiful and anticipated harbingers of spring in California and the Pacific Northwest. Females lack the orange tips but share the same stunning green marbling below. It has a brief, one-brood flight tied to the blooming of its mustard host plants.
Best time to see a Sara Orangetip
The best time to see a Sara Orangetip is March–April, when about 61% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 5,781 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Sara Orangetip? What bug is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Sara Orangetip sightings near you
Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.
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