Fauna Flora Photography

European Peacock Aglais io

A colorful butterfly with uniquely colored large eyelike circles. This butterfly is of European origin established in the Montreal area recently. It appears early in the spring.

Specs

Length4-5cm

Common Names

GermanTagpfauenauge
EnglishEuropean Peacock
FrenchPaon-du-jour
SpanishPavo real

Taxonomy

OrderLepidoptera
FamilyNymphalidae
SpeciesAglais io

How to Identify

The size and color of the large circles on the back of the animal, imitating eyes of a larger animal, are unique in shape and color.

European Peacock (Aglais io) - Parc Nature Pointe aux Prairies - 2019-05-06

Where and When to Spot

During spring almost everywhere around Montreal. I saw my first individual in Park Pointe aux Prairies.

Last updated on 2024-03-14. Written and regularly updated by Karl-Heinz Müller, Dipl. Natw. ETH, Biology. With 10 years of experience in wildlife photography, Karl-Heinz shares first-hand, on-site collected observations, photos and videos from his frequent visits to parks in the Montreal area.