The Monarch butterfly is perhaps the best known of all North American butterflies. It is easily recognizable by its bright orange-red wings, with black veins and white spots along the edges. The Monarch butterfly is famous for its southward migration from Canada to Mexico and the northward return back to Canada in summer. Every fall, millions of these butterflies fly west to their wintering grounds in California and Mexico, covering the trees there with their bright shimmering wings. |
These butterflies congregate into colonies and become almost a canopy around trees. In many cases, they are so thick that the trees turn orange in color and branches sag from the weight. It’s a remarkable sight that attracts scores of tourists each year. |
The Monarch butterfly is the only butterflies that migrate like birds do - going both north and south. However, no single butterfly lives to see the whole journey as migrations usually span 3-4 generations of the short-lived insect. It is also one of the only insects to cross the Atlantic.
|
The Monarch Butterflies travel between 1,200-2,800 miles, from Canada to the central Mexican forests, where the climate is warmer. |
Submitted by user: Nora L.
Related Articles (Collections):
Butterfly and Moth Photo Galleries
Stunning Photos of Wild Animals
Beautiful and Weird Sea Creatures
A Stunning Bird Photography Collection
The Most Beautiful Trees and Forests
Nature Always Finds a Way – 13 Powerful Pics
Enjoy these amazing pictures showing the power and beauty of Mother Nature.
Meet 10 of Australia’s Scariest Inhabitants
Here’s proof that Australia has some of the scariest creatures.
15 Cool and Unexpected Things Found by Complete Accident
See these outstanding accidental discoveries in this photo collection!
14 Incredible Sights from the Mighty Andes
We have curated a stunning collection of photos that showcase one of the most remote and awe-inspiring places on Earth.
Ever Hear of THESE Mixed Dog Breeds? 50 Beautiful Pairings
This post will show you no less than 50 of the most adorable mixes of dogs you may have never encountered before.
Who Knew Yellowstone Had So Many Gorgeous Animals?
Yellowstone National Park is a wonderful place that has a large number of wild animals.
Weird Science: 12 Phenomena That Scientists Can’t Explain
Scientists think they're got the world covered but so many mysteries remain. Here are 12 bizarre phenomena that even scientists can't explain.
Beautiful & Weird Creatures of the Sea - Collection
In this collection, you'll find some of the most strange, beautiful and remarkable creatures under the waves.
Witness the Beauty of Birds in This Gorgeous Collection
In this collection, we’ve compiled the very best bird photos we could find - from stunning birds or paradise to most exotic birds on Earth
16 Award-Winning Shots That’ll Take Your Breath Away
The 2020 winners of the nature photography competition BigPicture have been announced, and they are astounding!
Behold the Gaur: The Largest Wild Cow on Earth
Let’s get up close and personal with the mighty Indian gaur, known as the world’s biggest wild cow.
Are These the Coolest 70 Year Olds Ever?
These women have made their livelihoods by hunting sea snakes on the coast of their island.
These Mind-Blowing Landscape Photos Need to be Framed
Take a look at the magical winners of the 2022 Landscape Photographer of the Year competition.
Milky Way Photographer of the Year 2023: 15 Striking Pics
The winners of the 2023 Milky Way Photographer of the Year contest have been revealed!
Discover the World of Beautiful Wild Cats
These cats may make you want to pet them, but be advised - these are all rare and highly feral breeds. Maybe it's best to enjoy these 10 wild cats from afar...
Here Are 12 of the Strangest Lakes on the Planet
We present to you 12 of the strangest lakes on our planet.
Hilarious! Nobody Tells Mother Nature What to Do!
Here are 18 ironic photos that prove that nature doesn't care about what people want!
Witness the Magical Views of Norway's Northern Islands
The amazing place you are about to see in this video is Svalbard - an archipelago that is in the northernmost part of the entire kingdom of Norway.
Admire the Never Ending Beauty of the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most beautiful and awe-striking natural wonders of the USA - take a tour through this must-see location in this video.
These Stunning Waterfalls Will Take Your Breath Away!
Waterfalls are a thing of beauty which never fail to impress! Check out 17 of the world's greatest waterfalls here!
Nature inFocus Photography Awards: 17 Incredible Winners
Check out the incredible winners of the 2023 Nature inFocus Photography Awards.
Expect to See Lots of Butterflies with These Flowers
Here are 15 flowers you should add to your outdoor space in the hope of seeing more beautiful butterflies.
Humans Aren't the Only Devoted Parents...
Beautiful examples of the kind of parents you'll find in the animal kingdom.
WATCH: These Two Elephants Meet After 20 Years...
Being apart for 20 years can be hard, and when these 2 elephants finally met again, the results were simply beautiful.
These 20 Animal Facts will Blow Your Mind
Did you know that squirrels plant trees or that oysters can change their gender? These little-known animal facts will blow your mind! I was especially impressed with no.6!
Say Hello to the Tiniest Bird You'll Ever See!
How small is the tiniest bird ever recorded? Watch this video and find out!
These Are the Best Photos of Horses That You'll Ever See!
Iceland is a place that is full of beauty...even the horses are absolutely majestic. Take a look!
21 Gorgeous Reasons Nature Needs No Photoshop
You'll be impressed by 21 nature pictures that prove the world is beautiful the way it is if you only know where to look.
Exploring the World of 8 Fascinating Pink Animals
Nature has blessed these creatures in stunning shades of pink.
15 of Bhutan's Most Riveting Animals Revealed!
From the clouded leopard to the Himalayan monal, discover the wonders of Bhutan's wildlife kingdom with us.
These X-ray Photos of Pregnant Animals Will Intrigue You
A collection of X-rays taken of pregnant animals.
10 Beautiful Horse Breeds Everyone Needs to Know About
We humans owe horses so much thanks to the role they've played in human history. These are probably the 10 most interesting breeds of all.
16 EERIE Close-Ups of Bugs Under a Microscope
Take a look at these terrifying close-ups of insect faces.
Photographer Captures Myriad Moods of Stunning Big Cats
Observing big cats from up close is rare. Here are some brilliant big cat portraits that take you real close to these magnificent animals.
World's Biggest Snake: This Massive Anaconda Is 26ft-Long!
Scientists have just discovered the world’s biggest snake in Amazon rainforest.
Wildlife Is Even More Beautiful In 4K Definition!
The wildlife in Myanmar is beautiful, and we're lucky enough to witness it being captured in 4K definition. Enjoy!
These Have Got to Be Some of the World Strangest Plants
In this world there are pretty plants and then there are talented and bizarre plants. These 12 plants definitely fall into the latter category.
This Man Saved the Tiniest Bird You've Ever Seen
This video is heart melting. Such a good guy this man is, saving the tiniest birds you've ever seen. See the tiny eggs transform into tiny creatures of fluff and feather.
A Photo Guide to Beautiful Birds of Prey
A comprehensive photo-guide of common and rare birds of prey.
Llamas Can Be Both Mean and Hilarious!
Llamas are some of the most hilarious animals on our planet. Watch this compilation video to find out why!
Beautiful: How Your Dog Sees You Vs. How You See Yourself
Although we can feel down in the dumps about ourselves sometimes, our dogs will always keep their faith in us and see us as their heroes.
These Are the Best Nature Walks in the Entire World
There's no doubt that walking in nature is good for the soul, so imagine what it would do for you along the very best routes in the world. Here are 10 of them.
Italian Wildlife Should be Talked About a Lot More!
Join us on a journey to Italy’s amazing wildlife.
Dr. Hodges - The Vet That Cures Exotic Cute Pets
In this video, we meet Monty, the pet axolotl. It's his first visit to the Vet!
What Did These Breeds Look Like a Century Ago?
Certain breeds of dogs have changed a lot over the last century. Check out some of their evolutionary changes here.
The Glass Butterfly: One of Nature's Most Beautiful Creatures
The 'Great Oto' butterfly is nicknamed the 'glass butterfly' and it's easy to see why. It may just be the most beautiful butterfly of all.