Pipevine Swallowtails in Cataloochee Cove - GSMNP

These Pipevine Swallowtails were so vibrant in flight. I thought they were Spicebush until I got home and started going through the photographs.

Spicebush Swallowtail

These photos of the Spicebush Swallowtails were also taken on the side of the road. I am beginning to think I need to plant some thistle in my yard. (Just kidding!) I orginally had this posted as a Tiger Swallowtail, then changed it to a Pipevine Swallowtail, but I have done a LOT more research and determined it is really a Spicebush Swallowtail.

Pipevine Swallowtails

As with all butterflies, it is hard to believe the difference when looking at them in flight and when they land and are flat. The Pipevine Swallowtail really frustrates me as a photographer. It seems I can only them get them on ugly backgrounds. These were taken in the GSMNP, but it happens in my yard too. As all butterflies, they do like wet dirt, or as we would call it, mud.