Rothschild’s birdwing  (Ornithoptera rothschildi)

The Rothschild’s birdwing is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List (1), and is listed on Appendix II of CITES (2).

The narrow forewings of the male Rothschild’s birdwing are black with scattered yellowish-green scales. The oval hindwings are edged with black and have a central patch of yellow bordering a smaller area of lime green and a series of prominent black spots. The underside is similar but more golden. Females are largely dark brown, but have a series of pale spots on the forewings and the hindwings bear a large patch of yellow-brown colour enclosing a series of black spots. The abdomen is ringed with black. The caterpillar is black and spiky, with bright yellow horns. The pupa is black and yellow (3) (4) (5).

Restricted to the western part of the island of New Guinea, Indonesia (1) (5).

This is a high elevation species, which inhabits rich, shrubby habitats in sheltered valleys and ravines that are protected from strong winds (6). Most records are from between 1,500 and 2,500 metres above sea level (4).

The Rothschild’s birdwing lays up to 20 eggs on the food plant – a Pararistolchia species. Once hatched, the caterpillars consume the leaves of the plant before pupating. The pupa undergoes metamorphosis and emerges some weeks later as the adult butterfly (4).

Rothschild’s birdwing has a very restricted distribution (6), making it very vulnerable to any threats that may arise. In the past, there was a considerable trade in this species, but this diminished in the early 1980s. Today, no particular threats to its habitats have been identified, but a dense human population and the cutting of wood in the forests is a general threat to the region in which this butterfly occurs (6). However, this high altitude species is offered some natural protection through the remoteness of its habitat (5).

There is no targeted conservation action for this species and as long as the human population continues to grow in Indonesia, habitat loss will continue. Rothschild’s birdwing is listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which serves to regulate the trade in the species or any of its parts by requiring export licences and producing quotas (2).

View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.