Insect · GBIF taxon 1937514
Rajah Brooke's Birdwing
Trogonoptera brookianaAlso known as Brooke's Birdwing, Rajah Brooke Birdwing
Male Rajah Brooke's birdwings feature brilliant electric-green chevron markings across velvety black forewings, contrasting with a deep crimson collar. Groups of males gather along damp riverbanks and muddy rainforest paths to absorb essential mineral salts, while the elusive females spend most of their time soaring high in the tropical canopy. As the national butterfly of Malaysia, this spectacular pollinator plays a vital role in tropical forest ecosystems.
RainforestPollinatorTropical
1 / 6—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Bauhinia flower nectar
- Aristolochia leaves
- Mineral-rich moisture
Predators
- Insectivorous birds
- Tree-dwelling lizards
- Orb-weaver spiders
ThreatsDeforestation, forest degradation, and historical over-collection for the insect trade
HabitatsPrimary and secondary lowland rainforests, river valleys
Life spanAdults live 2–4 weeks; complete lifecycle spans several months
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyPapilionidae
- SpeciesTrogonoptera brookiana
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- What to notice
- Recognized by a 15–17 cm wingspan with electric-green chevrons on velvety black wings and a crimson neck collar.
- Support conservation
- Observe and photograph without capturing or disturbing puddling groups, and never purchase wild-collected specimens.
Responsible observation
- Puddling Sites: Look for aggregations of males sipping mineral moisture along shaded stream margins in early morning.
- Observing Flight: Watch the high forest canopy where females spend most of their time patrolling nectar sources.
Host Plant (c) Vinayaraj, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Nectar Source (c) portioid, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by portioid · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Steve, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.