Britain is home to only one native species of Swallowtail – the iconic subspecies the British Swallowtail Papilio machaon britannicus. It is Britain’s largest butterfly and a symbol for its home region, the Norfolk Broads. Unfortunately, this has not protected the species from population decline and habitat restriction. Due to changes in habitat management and significant drying of vast areas of land to […]
Saving swallowtail and birdwing butterflies
The Quest for Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing
Artist, naturalist and vet, John Gale, shares his account of his adventures to Papua New Guinea in search of the magnificent Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing butterfly, the inspiration behind his beautiful Ornithoptera alexandrae print. Three years ago I met up with Charles Dewhurst, SBBT’s first Secretary, who arranged for me to visit Papua New Guinea (PNG) […]
Jamaican Swallowtails under threat
Two species of Swallowtail endemic to Jamaica: The Jamaican Giant Swallowtail or Homerus Swallowtail (Pterourus homerus) and the Blue Kite Swallowtail (Protographium marcellinus) are both in need of additional protection. Two recent papers published in May 2025 in Tropical Lepidoptera Research by Thomas Turner and Vaughan Turland have highlighted the continued threats to these two […]
The Butterfly Effect – When Butterflies Go Extinct
Deforestation emerges as the most severe threat along with mining operations, sand quarries, oil palm plantations, and large-scale agricultural projects to the global stronghold of the Birdwing butterflies.
Supporters & Collaborators
Our Mission
The mission of the Swallowtail and Birdwing Butterfly Trust is to conserve and protect members of the Papilionidae, a worldwide family of more than 580 species that include the largest, most spectacular and most endangered butterflies on the planet.
Aims
SBBT aims to build the capacity of local people and organisations to achieve long-lasting conservation and sustainable change.
Methods
We achieve this in four ways: we raise financial resources; convene research networks and partnerships; catalyse action, and provide scientific and technical support to conservation projects.
Wider Reach
Our work is generally planned and executed in the context of wider butterfly faunas, their foodplants, and the ecosystems that they inhabit.
Giving
Financial contributions are welcome and will be treasured. We also need your ideas, new information, suggestions and encouragement!
What We Do
We do four things to help swallowtails and birdwings: we raise financial resources; convene networks and partnerships; catalyse action, and provide scientific and technical support.
Papilio! Newsletter
