Butterfly ID please

[Jeff1583 83]

 

[480sparky75 74]

Western Tiger Swallowtail.

 

[Overread40]

Beauty of a photo - great capture of a stunning butterfly!

Going by your location in the UK its not a Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus), but a Swallowtail (Papilio machaon). That is provided you saw it in the UK and its not part of a captive collection.

If its a wild seen one then its a very rare butterfly to see in the UK. The native population is restricted to Norfolk (due to that being where its primary larval food plant, Milk-parsley, is located). If you've seen it elsewhere then its an even rarer potential migrant form Europe.

UK Butterflies - Swallowtail - Papilio machaon

If you want a good reference book the Collins Butterfly Guide is a well written book with clear illustrations of each species of butterfly over Britain and Europe

 

[Jeff1583 83]

It was taken in Mallorca Spain....

 

[Overread40]

That would certainly make it a Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) as they are distributed over a wide area of Europe, including Spain. Still a rare butterfly to see so a great experience! (suffered huge population reductions, likely as a result of changing farming practices)

 

[Jeff G]

Nice one Jeff.

 

[Dean_Gretsch]

Colors, lighting and background are all beautiful. Nice ID by Overread too!

 

[Derrel]

Nice shot.
I like butterflies. Nothing like the mariposa!

 

[HavToNo]

Excellent shot Jeff. I knew it was some kind of swallowtail but I didn't know witch one.