Mourning Cloaks are one of the first butterflies to fly in the spring because they over winter as adults. They spend the winter in crevices behind bark or in log or brush piles. If the temperature warms to 55 degrees and the sun is shining, these butterflies will come out to bask in the sun in a sheltered place, even in the middle of winter. This one flew past me in the woods and landed on a branch right in front of my face.

Mourning Cloaks are in a group of butterflies called “Anglewings” because of the jagged points along the edges of their wings. Most Anglewings have bright colors on the top surface of their wings, and dull brown colors on the undersides. When they close their wings, they look like dead leaves.

Since there are no flowers this early in the year, Mourning Cloaks and other Anglewings will sip tree sap as well as nectar.

Here’s a link to a story I did about Mourning Cloaks – with more photos.