Brown Clipper

Description:

The Clipper is a fast flying butterfly and has a habit of flying with its wings flapping stiffly between the horizontal position and a few degrees below the horizontal. It may glide between spurts of flapping. The Clipper is a powerful and fast flying butterfly. The flight consists of short periods of gliding, alternating every few seconds with shallow but rapid flickering wing beats. Both sexes commonly nectar at Lantana and other flowers. Males will also settle on the ground to imbibe moisture. If disturbed they fly up immediately, circle around at a height of about 3 metres, and then resettle nearby.

Habitat:

This species is found in primary rainforest, usually in the vicinity of rivers, at elevations between sea level and about 300 metres.

Notes:

Spotted in a tropical butterfly garden in S.E. France, on the French/Spanish border. Many of the butterflies in this butterfly garden had tattered wings. I wondered if there was too much vegetation in a confined space, either that, or they were old. They were in a large, long plastic growing tube with many plants. Photo courtesy of Claire Chamberlin.