Peacock butterfly wins Britain's favourite butterfly poll with over 20,000 votes
The peacock butterfly has won Butterfly Conservation's first-ever poll to find Britain's favourite butterfly, beating 59 other native species with more than 20,000 votes cast. The top five were all common garden species: peacock, orange-tip, red admiral, holly blue, and brimstone. The result matters as it coincides with the upcoming Big Butterfly Count starting 17 July, where the peacock is expected to feature prominently due to high caterpillar numbers currently reported on nettles.
Butterfly Conservation's inaugural nationwide poll has crowned the peacock butterfly as Britain's favourite, drawing over 20,000 votes across all 60 native species. Known for its striking rusty red, black, and lavender eye-spot markings, the peacock is a widespread species found throughout the British Isles in spring, summer, and autumn. The full top five — peacock, orange-tip, red admiral, holly blue, and brimstone — were all common species regularly seen in gardens, parks, and suburbs. Rarer and more endangered species fared poorly, with the swallowtail, Britain's largest butterfly, finishing ninth, and the iridescent purple emperor coming in a surprising 15th. The bottom ten were dominated by less colourful brown, grey, and golden-brown winged species, suggesting public preference skews strongly toward vivid colouration. The poll's timing aligns with the Big Butterfly Count, the world's largest butterfly survey, which opens on 17 July and invites participants to spend 15 minutes counting butterflies and day-flying moths. The peacock and the migrant painted lady — which finished 10th — are both expected to appear in high numbers this summer.
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Britain’s favourite butterfly revealed – and it’s a familiar backyard beauty
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