How many butterfly species live in Myanmar?

Myanmar is estimated to harbour around 900–1,000 species of day-flying butterflies, though the country remains significantly under-surveyed due to decades of limited research access. This places it among the five most species-rich countries in Asia. The exceptional diversity reflects Myanmar's position at the biogeographical junction of the Indian subcontinent, the Himalayas, and the Indo-Chinese peninsula — three major faunal regions meet within its borders. The Tenasserim hills in the far south, which extend into peninsular Thailand, add Malaysian elements to an already complex fauna. Papilionidae (swallowtails and birdwings) are particularly well represented, with over 80 species recorded.

What are the most spectacular butterflies of Myanmar?

Myanmar's most sought-after species include the Golden birdwing (Troides aeacus), a large black-and-gold swallowtail of lowland forest whose female wingspan can reach 150 mm; Rajah Brooke's birdwing (Trogonoptera brookiana), with iridescent green-tipped black wings, which extends into the Tenasserim region from peninsular Malaysia; and the Common windmill (Byasa polyeuctes), a dramatic black swallowtail with crimson hindwing patches. The Paris peacock (Papilio paris), its wings set with a turquoise-blue iridescent patch, is common in montane forest. The Malayan lacewing (Cethosia hypsea) and the Orange Gull (Cepora judith) add spectacular colour to forest clearings.

Which parts of Myanmar are best for butterfly watching?

The most productive butterfly areas are in the mountainous periphery where forest cover remains high. The Chin Hills and Sagaing Region in the northwest hold Himalayan-influence species including Bhutan glory (Bhutanitis lidderdalii) and Himalayan swallowtail (Papilio Lernaeus). Kachin State in the north, bordering Yunnan and northeast India, is known for extraordinary diversity but remains difficult to access. The Tanintharyi (Tenasserim) coast and Myeik Archipelago in the far south, geographically closest to peninsular Malaysia, hold the most Sundaland-affinity species. Pyin Oo Lwin (Maymyo), the former hill station at 1,070 m on the Shan Plateau, is one of the most accessible montane butterfly sites with a well-documented local fauna of several hundred species.

Butterfly Atlas

Butterflies of Myanmar

~2 min

Myanmar lies at the crossroads of the Indo-Malayan and Indo-Chinese faunal zones, with an estimated 900–1,000 butterfly species — one of Asia's richest.

Overview

Myanmar occupies a pivotal position in the biogeography of Asia. Bordered by India and Bangladesh to the northwest, China to the north and northeast, and Laos and Thailand to the east, the country spans from the Eastern Himalayan foothills at over 5,000 m to tropical coastal lowlands barely above sea level. This extraordinary altitudinal and latitudinal range, combined with the convergence of three major biogeographical zones — the Indian subcontinent, the Himalayan highlands, and the Indo-Chinese peninsula — produces one of the richest butterfly faunas in the world.

An estimated 900–1,000 species of day-flying butterflies have been recorded, with many areas still incompletely surveyed. Large intact forest blocks remain in the Kachin, Shan, and Chin states, preserving communities that have largely disappeared from neighbouring countries with heavier deforestation pressure.

Biogeographical zones

Himalayan north (Kachin and Chin States)

The northern ranges, draining into the Irrawaddy and Chindwin, carry a predominantly Himalayan-affinity fauna — species shared with Bhutan, Sikkim, and Yunnan:

Bhutan glory (Bhutanitis lidderdalii) — high-altitude forest, one of the most spectacular swallowtails
Kaiser-i-Hind (Teinopalpus imperialis) — montane ridges above 2,000 m
Himalayan swallowtail (Papilio Lernaeus) — forest clearings in the foothills
Juniper hairstreak and other montane Tajuria species — oak and rhododendron forest

The Hkakabo Razi area (Myanmar's highest peak, 5,881 m) remains almost entirely unsurveyed by lepidopterists.

Central lowlands and Irrawaddy basin

The dry central zone around Mandalay and the Irrawaddy floodplain has a drier, more open vegetation and a correspondingly different fauna of open-country species:

Common jezebel (Delias eucharis) — widespread in parks and gardens
Plain tiger (Danaus chrysippus) — open scrub and agricultural margins
Lemon emigrant (Catopsilia pomona) — a powerful migratory pierid

Shan Plateau and Tenasserim hills

The Shan Plateau (900–1,500 m) and the long Tenasserim (Tanintharyi) range reaching south toward peninsular Malaysia hold the greatest diversity:

Paris peacock (Papilio paris) — bright turquoise-centred swallowtail, common in montane forest
Common windmill (Byasa polyeuctes) — black with crimson patches
Malayan lacewing (Cethosia hypsea) — forest clearings with vivid orange and black pattern
Golden birdwing (Troides aeacus) — lowland and lower montane forest

Tenasserim coast and Myeik Archipelago

The southernmost region, geographically part of the Thai-Malay peninsula, adds Sundaland species reaching their northern limit:

Rajah Brooke's birdwing (Trogonoptera brookiana) — the most striking butterfly of the Malaysian subregion, with brilliant emerald-green wing tips on velvety black
Mangrove skipper and other coastal forest specialists
Chocolate Albatross (Appias lyncida) — common in coastal forest

Key habitats

Habitat	Characteristic species
Lowland tropical rainforest	Golden birdwing, lacewings, Charaxes species
Montane forest (1,000–2,000 m)	Paris peacock, Kaiser-i-Hind, jezebels (Delias)
High montane (above 2,000 m)	Bhutan glory, montane Erebia, Apollo relatives
Dry central forest	Plain tiger, pioneers (Catopsilia), open-country whites
Coastal and mangrove	Mangrove specialists, Papilio demoleus, emigrants

Seasonality

Myanmar's butterfly season is governed by the monsoon. The southwest monsoon (June–October) brings heavy rain to western and southern regions, suppressing butterfly activity at low elevations. The dry season (November–May) is the main observation window in most areas; montane sites above 1,000 m remain productive through much of the year. The period from January to April is typically the best for combining warm dry weather with abundant nectar sources.

Conservation

Myanmar retains among the highest forest cover of any country in mainland Southeast Asia — approximately 42% of land area remains forested. However, logging rates have accelerated since the 1990s, and road construction into previously remote highland areas is opening formerly pristine forest to commercial extraction. Several globally protected butterfly species — including Troides birdwings found in the region — are monitored by CITES and national legislation, but enforcement is inconsistent. The Hukawng Valley Wildlife Sanctuary in Kachin State, one of the largest protected areas in Southeast Asia, preserves critical lowland forest habitat.