If you've spotted a yellow and black butterfly flitting through your garden or the woods, you may have encountered one of several striking species common across North America.

These butterflies are not only beautiful, but also biologically rich with color patterns, flight periods, and life cycles that offer clues about their identity.

Let's look at some of the most prominent yellow and black butterflies, what sets them apart, and where you’re likely to find them.

1. Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)

One of the most familiar butterflies in eastern North America, the eastern tiger swallowtail is large, with bold vertical black stripes across yellow wings.

Males are bright yellow with black stripes, and their hindwings have yellow marginal spots (lacking the blue band seen in

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