Two-tailed Swallowtail butterfly on a blooming serviceberry, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, UtahTwo-tailed Swallowtail butterfly on a blooming serviceberry – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Late last week I stopped my Jeep in the Wasatch Mountains because I spotted a Two-tailed Swallowtail butterfly resting on a blooming serviceberry shrub. I look for and pay attention to butterflies and other insects while I am out searching for birds.

Why wouldn’t I?

Insects are often bird food and where I find bird food I usually find birds. Insects are also beautiful things that sometimes have wings.

Two-tailed Swallowtail butterfly on serviceberry blooms close up, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, UtahTwo-tailed Swallowtail butterfly on serviceberry blooms close up – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 500, -0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

The two long “tails” of this Two-tailed Swallowtail are missing because they have been broken off. I suspect that this is a male because the females typically show more blue on the upper part of the wings than this swallowtail shows. Plus females of this species have broader black stripes than males.

It was still cool when I photographed this butterfly and it may have rested overnight at this location. Other vehicles had driven past this serviceberry prior to my arrival at this blooming shrub. I wonder if any of the people in those vehicles even saw this brightly colored butterfly.

I couldn’t resist stopping for it.

Two-tailed Swallowtail butterfly resting on serviceberry blossoms, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, UtahTwo-tailed Swallowtail butterfly resting on serviceberry blossoms – Nikon D500, f10, 1/1250, ISO 500, -0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

And I am glad that I did. This swallowtail was a beautiful subject to have in my viewfinder. But that isn’t the only reason I am glad I stopped to photograph this butterfly.

As I photographed this swallowtail I heard the sound of tiny wings. When I looked around my viewfinder I spotted a male Black-chinned Hummingbird close by. If I hadn’t stopped for this swallowtail I wouldn’t have found the hummingbird to photograph. I only needed to move my Jeep forward a few feet to have the male hummingbird in my viewfinder too. I hope to share photos of the male Black-chinned Hummingbird here soon.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my insect and spider images. Click here to see more of my wildflower photos along with shrubs and trees.