Fairly common in early spring and late spring, Mourning Cloak is one of the few species you might find flying on a warm winter's day. Only occasionally seen in summer in North Carolina. A fresh Mourning Cloak is spectacular, velvety brownish-black with bluish-lavender spots and a broad yellow edge, interspersed with brownish spots.

Chapel Hill, Orange Co., NC 5/12/2012.

The underside is mostly dark gray, fractured by a complex pattern of black lines, and with a broad yellow edge interspersed with brownish-gray spots.

Chapel Hill, Orange Co., NC 5/12/2012.

Same individual, but using flash instead of just natural light, to better show the pattern.

Chapel Hill, Orange Co., NC 5/12/2012.

Wake Co., NC 6/4/05.

Granville Co., NC 6/4/05.

Durham Co., NC 8/16/09.

Orange Co., NC 4/10/05.

Orange Co., NC 4/10/05.