Butterfly Cairns Birdwing

Tom Newman

Butterfly Cairns Birdwing

Male Cairns Birdwing Butterfly (Ornithoptera euphorion) at the Melbourne Zoo.
Australia’s largest endemic butterfly species, with females reaching a wingspan of up to 16 cm. Males are usually a few centimetres smaller.
Males have a predominately black upper wing with emerald green flashes, however the female lacks the green colouring, having a plain black upper wing with white patches. The female is the larger of the two sexes. The larvae or caterpillars of this species breed on several species of pipe vine. The leaves of the introduced Dutchman’s Pipe (Aristolochia elegans) will kill the larvae of this species and several other swallowtail butterflies in Australia. The Cairns Birdwing Butterfly lives in tropical rainforests between Mackay and Cooktown in north-east Queensland, Australia. It is most often seen flying in the canopy of the rainforest.
The destruction of tropical rainforest has led to a decline in the population of the Cairns Birdwing Butterfly and it is now a protected species.
http://www.arazpa.org.au/

D300. Lens 105mm Nikkor f/2.8 ED VR
1/60s, f/4.0, ISO:800

Butterfly Cairns Birdwing belongs to the following groups:

! 100% !, ** Super Macro Photography (Two Per Day ), All Around the Styles, All things in the Natural World, All Things Poetic, Artistic, Philosophical, Animal Kingdom, Australia! You're Standing In it...., Australian Contemporary Photography, Australian Landmarks and Icons, Australian Wildlife, Birds and Creatures of Flight, Bokeh, Bug Hunt! (with Location please), Butterflies, Skippers, Moths, & Other Winged Insects (2 a Day), Cee's Fun Artsy Friends (no holidays cards or snapshots please), Depth Of Field (2 images per day) - Read Group Rules Please, DSLR Users Only - 1/24 - Camera & Lens In Description Please., Endangered Species, Featured Features - For Featured Art, Photography, T-Shirts, Writing, First Things, Freedom to Shine, Friends of RedBubble, JPG Cast-Offs, Just Butterflies, Just Pure Nature., Made By Nature - {2 a day} - {challenge theme only!}, Melbourne & Victoria, Mood & Ambience - Strictly Photos, Nature's Wonders, Old farts of redbubble, Retired and Happy. 2 a day limit., Safe Haven, Shameless Self-Promotion, Shapes & Patterns - Limit of 2 images per day, Technical Photography, The Beauty of Nature (Nothing Man-Made), The power of simplicity (Photography only), The Scavenger Hunt, The true beauty, Top Shelf Wildlife & Nature Art, Vibrant and Vivid Color, Victorian Viewfinders, Zoophoria (2 per day, approval required) and ≈♥≈The Weekend Photographer≈♥≈ Available for sale as

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Butterfly Cairns Birdwing by Tom Newman
Butterfly Cairns Birdwing by Tom Newman
  • jesika

    jesika

    Absolutely beautiful image of a gorgeous creature.
    j

  • Tom Newman replied

    Thanks jesika :-)

  • the6tees

    the6tees

    Tom This is so Gorgeous, Beautiful close up!!!!

  • Tom Newman replied

    Thank you Rose :-)

  • RoxyLust

    RoxyLust

    absulutly gorgeous :) xx

  • Tom Newman replied

    Thank you Roxy ;-)

  • Cheri McEachin

    Cheri McEachin

    Wonderful Colors Tom

  • Tom Newman replied

    Thanks Cheri ;-)

  • Lance Leopold

    Lance Leopold

    Stunning,Tom,love it!!

  • Tom Newman replied

    Thanks lance ;-)

  • RickF

    RickF

    Great capture!

  • Tom Newman replied

    Thanks RickF ;-)

  • Steve plowman

    Steve plowman

    Stunning image.

  • Tom Newman replied

    Thanks Steve :-)

  • Glenda Remaklus

    Glenda Remaklus

    Beautiful tom. Great macro. This is a gorgeous butterfly!

  • Tom Newman replied

    Thanks Glenda , it is a most beautiful butterfly and very accommodating when being photographed I am glad to say :-)

  • Sheila Smith

    Sheila Smith

    Stunner Tom

  • Tom Newman replied

    Thanks Sheila :-)

  • Belinda "BillyLee" NYE

    Belinda "Billy...

    Tom this is a beautiful photograph, its almost like looking at a print on an insect, I mean its so clear and perfect. I love it. Glad to meet another Oak HIll member . Billy

  • Tom Newman replied

    Thank you Belinda ;-)

  • Lisa G. Putman

    Lisa G. Putman

    Such a lovely image, Tom! Amazing colors, dof, and details. I sure hope we can all work to save this species! What a great loss for us all. Absolutely breathtaking!

  • Tom Newman replied

    Thanks Lisa, let’s hope so but as the human population continues to increase and urbanise it seems the future is not that good.

  • L M

    L M

    Tom, this is wonderful! And thank you for taking the time on your description. I would love to see this kind of work in the Descriptions Group as well!

    Lance

  • Tom Newman replied

    Thank you Lance, I have joined Descriptions and I shall send this one to the group . :-)

  • wildrider58

    wildrider58

    Stunning image.

  • Tom Newman replied

    Thanks Wildrider58:-)

  • Andrew Trevor-Jones

    Andrew Trevor-...

    Great image, Tom. Congratulations on the feature.

  • Tom Newman replied

    Thanks Andrew, he is a great subject, fantastic colours :-)

  • tigerlady96

    tigerlady96

    Tom this is a very beautiful shot

  • Tom Newman replied

    Thank you Linda :-)

  • jinney

    jinney

    REALLY BEAUTIFUL TOM!
    -jinney

  • Tom Newman

    Tom Newman

    Thanks jinney :) :)

  • Tiamaria

    Tiamaria

    Beautiful Tom…we are fortunate enough to have a Butterfly garden at the school I work at, and are able to follow the progress of these delightful creatures. :-)

  • Tom Newman replied

    Thank you Tiamara , how lucky you are to have such a garden , my shots are taken at the Butterfly House, Melbourne Zoo. You have the most beautiful shots of your butterflies in your portfolio , :-)

  • PrairieRose

    PrairieRose

    So beautifully composed Tom…...........the wonderful array of colours in this piece make this work quite special…........Bravo!

    Cheers, Rose :))))

  • Tom Newman replied

    Thank you Rose, a most beautiful butterfly :-)

  • Anna D'Accione

    Anna D'Accione

    Great capture and information Tom. Congratulations on your feature

  • Tom Newman replied

    Thanks Anna :-)

  • WendyJC

    WendyJC

    wonderful colour and detail.
    beautifully captured

  • Tom Newman replied

    Thanks Wendy, appreciate your comments :):)

  • Squealia

    Squealia

    Super shot, and colours

  • Tom Newman replied

    Thanks Celia :-)

  • Gavin Maginness

    Gavin Maginness

    Not only do you display beautiful work but the commentary is so informative. One can learn when they visit you. Thanks for sharing Tom

  • Tom Newman replied

    Thanks Gavin , appreciated :-)

  • Cheri Bouvier

    Cheri Bouvier

    This is just Beautiful!!!

  • Tom Newman replied

    Thanks Cheri appreciated :-)

  • lindamiller

    lindamiller

    Congratulations on you top ten win beautiful entry:-)

  • Tom Newman replied

    Thanks Linda appreciated :) :)

  • Kathy Reid

    Kathy Reid

    Stunning colours, beautiful image!

  • Tom Newman replied

    Thanks Kathy :-)

  • Robyn Carter

    Robyn Carter

    Don’t forget to add it to the December Avatar Challenge!

  • Tom Newman replied

    Thanks Robyn, I shall do so pronto. Many thanks for the feature much appreciated :-)

  • David Silsbury

    David Silsbury

    Great image Tom, well done and congratulations on your feature.
    David

  • Anthony Comella

    Anthony Comella

    Congratulations and thanks for this wonderful image!

  • Tom Newman replied

    Thanks Anthony appreciated :-)

  • fourthangel

    fourthangel

    Great shot. Please consider submitting this to our sister group, The Power of Simplicity!

  • Tom Newman replied

    Thanks fourthangel, I shall do so :-)

  • Nancy Chambers

    Nancy Chambers

    11-17-09

  • Tom Newman replied

    Thanks for the feature Nancy very much appreciated :-)

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