''Ornithoptera'' is a genus of birdwing butterflies found in the northern portion of the

Australasian realm The Australasian realm is a biogeographic realm that is coincident with, but not (by some definitions) the same as, the geographical region of Australasia. The realm includes Australia, the island of New Guinea (comprising Papua New Guinea and th ...

, east of Weber's line; the

Moluccas The Maluku Islands (; Indonesian: ''Kepulauan Maluku'') or the Moluccas () are an archipelago in the east of Indonesia. Tectonically they are located on the Halmahera Plate within the Molucca Sea Collision Zone. Geographically they are located ...

New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; id, Papua, or , historically ) is the world's second-largest island with an area of . Located in Oceania in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the island is separated from Australia by the wide Torr ...

, the

Solomon Islands Solomon Islands is an island country consisting of six major islands and over 900 smaller islands in Oceania, to the east of Papua New Guinea and north-west of Vanuatu. It has a land area of , and a population of approx. 700,000. Its capit ...

, and northeastern Australia. Except for ''

Ornithoptera richmondia ''Ornithoptera richmondia'', the Richmond birdwing, is a species of birdwing butterfly that is endemic to Australia. It is the second smallest of the birdwing species, the smallest being ''Ornithoptera meridionalis''. Distribution Historically, ...

'', which may be found in far northeastern

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

, Australia, therefore the southernmost distribution of birdwings. This genus includes the two largest butterfly species in the world, the

Queen Alexandra's birdwing ''Ornithoptera alexandrae'', the Queen Alexandra's birdwing, is the largest species of butterfly in the world, with females reaching wingspans slightly in excess of 25 cm to 28 cm (9.8 inches to 11 inches). This birdwing is restricted to the ...

and the

Goliath birdwing ''Ornithoptera goliath'', the Goliath birdwing, is a birdwing butterfly found in New Guinea. It is the second largest butterfly in the world, after the Queen Alexandra's birdwing. Etymology Both the specific and vernacular name are named after ...

. ''Ornithoptera'' species are highly prized by insect collectors because they are rare, large, and stunningly beautiful, arguably the most beautiful butterflies in the world.

Species

: subgenus: ''Aetheoptera'' ::* '' Ornithoptera victoriae'' – Queen Victoria's birdwing : subgenus: ''Ornithoptera'' ::* '' Ornithoptera aesacus'' – Obi Island birdwing ::* '' Ornithoptera croesus'' – Wallace's golden birdwing ::* '' Ornithoptera euphorion'' – Cairns birdwing ::* '' Ornithoptera priamus'' – common green birdwing ::* ''

'' – Richmond birdwing : subgenus: ''Schoenbergia'' ::* '' Ornithoptera chimaera'' – chimaera birdwing ::* ''

Ornithoptera goliath ''Ornithoptera goliath'', the Goliath birdwing, is a birdwing butterfly found in New Guinea. It is the second largest butterfly in the world, after the Queen Alexandra's birdwing. Etymology Both the specific and vernacular name are named after ...

'' – Goliath birdwing ::* '' Ornithoptera meridionalis'' – southern tailed birdwing ::* '' Ornithoptera paradisea'' – paradise birdwing ::* '' Ornithoptera rothschildi'' – Rothschild's birdwing ::* '' Ornithoptera tithonus'' – Tithonus birdwing : subgenus: ''Straatmana'' ::* ''

Ornithoptera alexandrae ''Ornithoptera alexandrae'', the Queen Alexandra's birdwing, is the largest species of butterfly in the world, with females reaching wingspans slightly in excess of 25 cm to 28 cm (9.8 inches to 11 inches). This birdwing is restricted to the ...

'' – Queen Alexandra's birdwing

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q11799307 Butterfly genera Papilionidae Taxa named by Jean Baptiste Boisduval