There are over 700 different species of butterflies in North America, and many of them can be found within the contiguous 48 states of the USA. For anyone who's interested in butterflies and wishes to learn more about them or identify individual species, a field guide can be extremely helpful. These are the best butterfly field guides for investigating and identifying butterflies in North America.
Kaufman Field Guide to Butterflies of North America
Best for fast identification
Although it's compact in size, this comprehensive butterfly field guide somehow packs in 392 pages as well as over 3,200 pictures and illustrations.
Pros:
- Lots of pages and pictures
- Compact size
- Written by famous naturalist
Cons:
- It's expensive
Written by one of the world's most famous naturalists and bird watchers, this field guide provides one of the most extensive overviews of American butterflies. All 392 pages are filled with detailed pictures and illustrations of butterflies in different poses, making it easier to identify them. Since the book is compact and easy to carry, you can take it along as you explore nature.
Garden Insects of North America: The Ultimate Guide to Backyard Bugs
More than just butterflies
Not only does this guide include tons of butterflies and caterpillars, but it also shows other common insects like bees, pests, and wasps, to help you identify what's in your garden.
Pros:
- Includes many types of insects
- Helps to identify pests and helpers in the home garden
- Thousands of photos and illustrations
Cons:
- It's expensive
More than just butterflies, this text can help identify the range of caterpillars and insects that you find in your garden. For example, those little worms chomping on your radishes might be baby butterflies that you don't want to do away with. Wasps and bees can also be great helpers. Use this field guide to identify the insects that populate your backyard and learn more about their role in your own little ecosyst
Golden Guide Field Guide to Butterflies and Moths Book
Don't forget the moths
Moths are technically butterflies too, so don't leave them out of your observations. This field guide includes many common moths so that you can identify them alongside their butterfly friends.
Pros:
- Includes moths as well as butterflies
- Incorporates illustrations of caterpillars as well
- Great low price
Cons:
- Not a comprehensive guide
While this little book is not a comprehensive guide of North American butterflies and moths, it definitely includes all of the most common species. Since it includes pictures of the caterpillars as well, you can identify baby butterflies along with adult ones. I like that it includes moths, like the famous Luna moth, which is one of my own personal favorites. This is a handheld booklet that is easy to bring along.
Butterflies for Kids: A Junior Scientist’s Guide
Best guide for children
Do you have a little naturalist on your hands? If so, here's a guide to teach them all about butterflies.
Pros:
- Simple and easy to read
- Lots of informative photos and illustrations
- Reasonable price point
Cons:
- Reading level might be difficult for the youngest readers
Let your little explorers discover a world of butterflies in their very own backyard. This book describes butterfly life cycles and behaviors and guides with many photos of different butterflies and caterpillars. It even includes fun activities and projects that kids can do themselves to become beginner naturalists. Since this book is written and illustrated specifically for kids, it will keep their interest and help them learn as they go through the information and activities.
Stokes Butterfly Book : The Complete Guide to Butterfly Gardening
Plant your own butterfly garden
While this is not a field guide per se, it is a guide of the plants that butterflies need to feed and reproduce. This is how you become a butterfly conservationist as well as an observer.
Pros:
- Butterfly plant guide
- Instructions on planting and care
- Identifies which butterflies feed on which plant
Cons:
- Only offers paperback version
One way to better observe local butterflies is to plant a butterfly garden. This book describes many of the plants required for North American butterflies to feed and reproduce. Learn how to grow butterfly plants, bring in more beautiful winged insects, and note the positive effects it will have on your local ecosystem. You'll get an up-close-and-personal look at butterfly life cycles as you go along.
A Swift Guide to Butterflies of North America
Most comprehensive guide
With 416 pages of butterfly photos and descriptions, this is the most comprehensive butterfly field guide on our list.
Pros:
- Over 3,500 photographs
- Includes all known species of North American butterflies
- Organized by color
Cons:
- Photos are a little too small
With so many high-quality photos in one place, this book will prove invaluable to identifying local butterflies. There is a color index to help you find each species faster, as well as photos of butterflies from several different angles. Descriptions include caterpillars and host plants too, so you can identify butterflies at every stage.
Caterpillars in the Field and Garden
Best for identifying caterpillars
The caterpillar and chrysalis are an integral part of the butterfly life cycle. Learn how to identify them with this book.
Pros:
- Includes thousands of caterpillars
- Indexed by color
- Features info about butterfly gardening
Cons:
- Hard cover is very expensive
Don't mistake baby butterflies for pests! This caterpillar field guide will help you to find and identify caterpillars, as well as predict what kind of butterfly they will turn into. It also describes which host plants the caterpillars feed on, and how to grow some of them. With the help of this book, you can become a butterfly conservationist yourself.
National Audubon Society Pocket Guide: Familiar Butterflies of North America
Smallest handheld butterfly field guide
The National Audubon Society is famous for field guides, and this little handheld edition is perfect for taking along.
Pros:
- Made by the Audubon Society
- Small, handheld size
- Includes lots of identification tips
Cons:
- Doesn't include butterfly territory maps
Since this field guide will fit in your back pocket, you can take it along as you explore the great outdoors. The handheld size makes it convenient to take out and flip through whenever you sight a butterfly. Since it's made by the Audubon Society, you can trust the text's quality and accuracy. It includes over 80 different species in full detail.
Butterfly hunters rejoice!
Once you get your hands on the best butterfly field guide, you'll be ready for adventures in butterfly chasing. These books are made to teach how to identify the butterflies that can be found in North America, as well as about butterfly life cycles and conservation. Keep one on hand so you'll always be able to identify any butterflies you spot as you go along.
My favorite is the Kaufman Field Guide to Butterflies because it includes such a great variety of pictures and illustrations. For the most comprehensive selection however, you can't beat the Swift Guide to Butterflies of North America. Your choice will depend on your own goals as a budding (or experienced) nature explorer.
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