Birdwing Butterfly

Ornithoptera alexandrae

The Birdwing Butterfly is one of the largest butterflies in the world! Its colorful wings can be yellow, green, and blue.

Habitat: Rainforests of New Guinea

Appearance

The Queen Alexandra's Birdwing is the world's largest butterfly, with females displaying dark brown wings marked with cream and yellow spots. Males are smaller, showcasing striking iridescent green and blue patterns on velvety black wings, differing from other butterflies with their unique bird-like wing shape.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderLepidopteraFamilyPapilionidaeGenusOrnithoptera

Birdwing Butterfly

Interesting facts

Female Birdwings can grow wings almost a foot wide, much larger than males!

Its spiky, dark caterpillar looks nothing like the stunning adult butterfly!

The Queen Alexandra's Birdwing lays eggs as big as a tiny pearl!

These butterflies are named for their huge, bird-like wings that help them soar high!

Special abilities

Birdwing Butterfly has an enormous wingspan that allows them to glide with incredible elegance through dense rainforest foliage.

Birdwing Butterfly can deter predators by absorbing toxins from their host plants as larvae, making adults unappetizing if eaten.

Birdwing Butterfly males have dazzling iridescent green wings that flash in sunlight, attracting mates and warning predators.

Measurements & details

Wingspan: 160-310 mm
Size: 70-80 mm
Lifespan: 60-90 days
Flight Speed: 15 km/h
Leg Count: 6

Diet & Feeding

Adult Birdwings sip nectar from flowers; caterpillars munch on poisonous vines.

Age differences: Larvae eat leaves of specific toxic vines, while adults drink flower nectar.

Primary Foods

Nectar
Aristolochia schlecteri leaves

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

depends on

Sipho vine

Aristolochia schlecteri

Caterpillars feed exclusively on its toxic leaves.

pollinates

China Rose

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

Visits flowers for nectar, aiding plant reproduction.

eaten by

Giant Golden Orb Weaver

Nephila pilipes

Can occasionally trap them in its strong golden webs.

Traits

Wildlife

Step into the incredible world of wild animals and plants living freely in nature. From tiny insects to towering trees, it's all part of the wild wonders around us!

Colorful

Discover amazing plants and animals that show off a dazzling array of bright and beautiful hues! They use their vibrant colors to attract attention or send signals.

Herbivorous

Meet the peaceful munchers and grazers who find all their nourishment from plants, leaves, and fruits. They transform plant energy into life!

Rainforest

These lush, humid forests are bursting with life, where towering trees create a canopy and rainfall is abundant all year round.

Diurnal

Wake up with creatures that are most active during the day! They love the sunshine for finding food, playing, and exploring.

Pollinator

Meet the busy helpers of the plant world! These creatures carry pollen from one flower to another, helping plants make seeds and grow fruits and vegetables.

Endangered

These are amazing plants and animals that are very rare and face a high risk of disappearing forever. We need to help protect them so future generations can enjoy them too!