Peacock Butterfly Crowned Britain's Favourite in Landmark Poll

The peacock butterfly has been crowned Britain's favourite butterfly in a historic poll conducted by Butterfly Conservation. With its striking lavender, yellow, and maroon eye spots set against rich rusty red and black wings, this familiar backyard beauty secured the top spot among 60 native species.

More than 20,000 votes were cast in the charity's first-ever nationwide survey to determine the nation's most beloved butterfly. The peacock, which can be seen flying across the British Isles from spring through autumn, emerged as the clear winner.

Top Five Favourites

The rest of the top five includes the orange-tip in second place, the red admiral in third, followed by the holly blue and the sulphur-yellow brimstone. All five species are common sights in gardens, parks, and suburban areas across most of the country.

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More elusive and endangered butterflies fared less well. Britain's largest butterfly, the swallowtail, finished ninth, likely because it is primarily found in the wilds of the Norfolk Broads. The charismatic purple emperor, beloved by a dedicated subculture of enthusiasts, surprisingly landed in 15th place.

Underdogs and Bottom Rankings

While voters embraced some of the most colourful species, moth-like skippers and less vibrant butterflies received little support. All of the bottom ten species are characterised by grey, brown, golden-brown, or black wings. The small pearl-bordered fritillary came in last place.

Kate Merry, head of engagement at Butterfly Conservation, expressed delight at the response: "The response to Britain's favourite butterfly has been absolutely wonderful, and we're not surprised. It's clear that people up and down the country love butterflies of all shapes, sizes, and colours, and voted in their thousands for their favourites."

She added: "The peacock is a worthy winner, it's a true showstopper and a species that I bet a lot of us picture when we think of butterflies. It's been really special seeing people get so passionate about their favourites and throw their support behind them! Now we can't wait to see how many peacocks are spotted up and down the country in this summer's Big Butterfly Count."

Big Butterfly Count Expectations

The peacock is expected to be the most-seen insect in this year's Big Butterfly Count, as enthusiasts report large numbers of its caterpillars on nettles, which should lead to a significant emergence in mid-July. The count, the world's largest butterfly survey, starts on 17 July and involves participants spending 15 minutes in any outdoor space counting butterflies and day-flying moths.

Another butterfly anticipated in large numbers this summer is the painted lady, which finished 10th in the poll. This long-distance migrant from Africa has arrived in large numbers recently, with its caterpillars set to consume thousands of thistles before a British-born generation emerges.