Comparisons of the easily confused black colored swallowtails
There are a few species of black colored swallowtail butterflies that are easily confused. They are the Black Swallowtail, Spicebush Swallowtail, Pipevine Swallowtail, and the female black morph Tiger Swallowtail.
The image below shows the differences between each species.
Differences between 4 species of black looking swallowtail butterflies.
The most easily confused is the Black Swallowtail and the Spicebush Swallowtail. The key difference in the side view is the Spicebush Swallowtail is missing one of the orange dots, and instead has a blue comet-like steak in its place. In the top view, the Black Swallowtail has an additional row of yellow dots.
The Pipevine swallowtail can also be confused. The main difference is it has less spots on the side view, and on the top view, there are far less dots, and the ones on the edge or the wing are very small. Spicebush Swallowtails also have much more iridescent blue on their hindwings. It also has some blue on the abdomen, where all the others do not.
Finally, the female black morph of the Tiger Swallowtail can get confused with the others. The key difference here is the tiger stripes are still visible, especially on the side view.
There are other differences that you can see in the image, but the above differences is really all you need to know when trying to tell them apart.
To learn about these butterflies, see what their caterpillars look like, and learn how to attract them to your property, follow the links:
Black Swallowtail Guide
Spicebush Swallowtail Guide
Tiger Swallowtail Guide
Recommended Wildlife Restoration Books:
Gardening for Butterflies: How You Can Attract and Protect Beautiful, Beneficial Insects
The Xerces Society, 2016
The experts at the Xerces Society offer this guide to creating a pollinator-friendly garden that supports at-risk butterflies. This book teaches why butterflies matter, the threats they face, and how to design habitats where they will thrive, no matter your garden's size or shape.
These books below are by Doug Tallamy, a renowned entomologist and ecologist, widely recognized as the leading advocate for promoting native plantings in yards to support biodiversity and wildlife conservation.
Nature's Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard
Douglas W. Tallamy, 2020
In this highly recommended book, Dr. Tallamy proposes a practical conservation approach, encouraging homeowners to plant native species and transform their yards into wildlife habitats with specific strategies that can be easily incorporated into their own yards! Available in Kindle, Hardback, and Audio.
The Living Landscape: Designing for Beauty and Biodiversity in the Home Garden
Douglas W. Tallamy, 2014
The Living Landscape teaches gardeners how to create a beautiful, functional yard that nourishes wildlife while providing space for play, privacy, and even a vegetable garden. It offers strategies for crafting a diverse, layered landscape with beauty, outdoor rooms, edible plants, and wildlife sustenance.Available in Kindle and Hardcover.
