Nymphalis polychloros
In 3 days ~40% in a week ~70%
The large tortoiseshell or blackleg tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros) is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. The species is found in North Africa, southern and central Europe, Turkey, southern Russia, the central and southern Urals, Kazakhstan and the Himalayas. In Central Europe it occurs mainly in warmer regions and has become generally rare, while populations remain more numerous in parts of the Mediterranean region and the southern Alps.
Large tortoiseshells inhabit open woodland, woodland edges and clearings, as well as orchards, hedgerows and areas of scattered trees. The larvae feed on a variety of deciduous trees including elm, poplar, willow and related species, while adults are often found basking on tree trunks or feeding on sap runs, overripe fruit and honeydew.
The species also occurs in Great Britain, where it has recently begun to re-establish itself following a prolonged absence. The large tortoiseshell was formerly widespread throughout England and Wales... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sierra de Guadarrama National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 2 | Monfragüe National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 3 | Sierra Nevada National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 4 | Cévennes National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 5 | Mercantour National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 6 | Aigüestortes National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 7 | Fertő-Hanság National Park | 🇭🇺 Hungary | |
| 8 | Pyrénées National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 9 | Bavarian Forest National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany |
Possible
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Large Tortoiseshell sighting in Sierra de Guadarrama National Park on a given day, based on 149 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 22nd most-seen of the 597 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 40%, and over a week to about 70%, if each day is a fresh chance.
February and March
In those months about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Large Tortoiseshell in Sierra de Guadarrama National Park on a given day, against under 5% in July, September and December, the lowest months.
Between 11 am and 2 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Large Tortoiseshell sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 9 parks where we can rate Large Tortoiseshell sightings, Sierra de Guadarrama National Park has the highest daily chance: about 20%. Next come Monfragüe National Park (Spain, about 20%) and Sierra Nevada National Park (Spain, about 10%).
Same family: Nymphalidae
The closest relatives of the Large Tortoiseshell that you can see in Sierra de Guadarrama National Park (family Nymphalidae, Brush-footed Butterflies) are Queen Of Spain Fritillary (about 40%), Speckled Wood (about 30%) and Iberian Marbled White (about 30%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Large Tortoiseshell is recorded against all the insects logged in Sierra de Guadarrama National Park (149 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
