arrow_back Species Library
Common Tit
Insects diurnal

Common Tit

Hypolycaena erylus

A gem of the garden, the Common Tit is a small butterfly with a big personality. Known for its 'false head' and elegant white-tipped tails, it brings a touch of indigo magic to backyards across South-East Asia.

0 Sightings
0 Habitats

Quick Identification

straighten

Size

Wingspan of 32-36 mm (1.25-1.4 inches)

palette

Colors

Males feature a dark indigo or purplish-brown upperside; females are predominantly dull brown. Both sexes have a pale grey underside with narrow dark bands and bright orange-crowned black spots at the base of the tails.

visibility

Key Features

  • Two unequal white-tipped tails on each hindwing
  • Prominent orange and black 'eye spots' near the tail base
  • Pearly grey underside with transverse dark bands
  • Quick, erratic flight pattern

When You’ll See Them

schedule
Activity pattern diurnal
brightness_5
Peak hours 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM and 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM
calendar_month
Season Year-round, with population spikes following the monsoon season.
restaurant
Diet Adults feed on the nectar of various flowering herbs and shrubs. Males frequently engage in 'puddling,' absorbing essential minerals and salts from damp soil, decaying organic matter, or even animal sweat.
park
Habitat Widespread across forest edges, secondary growth, suburban gardens, and urban parks with plenty of sunlight and flowering plants.

bar_chart
Loading activity data...

Behavior

The Common Tit is a master of deception. Like many members of the Lycaenidae family, it utilizes a 'false head' strategy to survive. By twitching its hindwings when perched, the long, delicate tails mimic antennae and the orange spots mimic eyes. This lures predators like birds and spiders to strike at the disposable wing edges rather than the butterfly's actual head.

These butterflies are generally solitary but can be seen in small groups at 'puddling' sites. Males are particularly territorial and will often pick a favorite sunlit leaf as a lookout post, darting out to chase away intruders before returning to the exact same spot. They are not particularly shy of humans, often allowing for close observation if approached slowly while they are feeding or sunning.

photo_camera EverydayEarth exclusive

Camera Tips

To capture high-quality images of the Common Tit, your camera placement is critical. These butterflies are low-to-mid-level flyers, rarely soaring high into the canopy. Mount your camera between 2 and 4 feet off the ground, angled slightly upward to catch the iridescent sheen on the male's wings or the intricate patterns on the underside. Positioning your gear near nectar-rich 'lure' plants like Ixora, Lantana, or Bidens will significantly increase your capture rate.

Because the Common Tit is small and fast, standard motion triggers can sometimes miss the action. If your AI-powered camera allows for 'Zone Triggering,' focus the trigger area on a specific flowering cluster or a pre-prepared puddling station. A puddling station can be easily created by placing a shallow tray of damp sand mixed with a pinch of sea salt or a few drops of fermented fruit juice in a sunny spot on the ground. This will encourage the butterflies to remain stationary for long periods, allowing for crystal-clear macro shots.

Lighting is your best friend when photographing lycaenids. The Common Tit's indigo wings only 'pop' when hit by direct or slightly diffused sunlight. Ensure your camera is positioned with the sun at its back (facing the subject). If you are using a trail camera, set the shutter speed to at least 1/1000th of a second if possible, or use a burst mode to capture the moment they twitch their hindwings—this behavior is their most iconic trait and makes for a fantastic sequence of photos.

Lastly, pay attention to the seasonal cycles in your backyard. While they are seen year-round, the weeks following heavy rains usually see a flush of fresh greenery. This is when the Common Tit is most active in search of host plants like Antidesma or Terminalia to lay eggs. If you identify these plants in your area, move your camera there to capture rare egg-laying or caterpillar activity, which adds a professional 'life-cycle' depth to your wildlife gallery.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Common Tit.

Fluffy Tit

Distinguished by significantly longer, thicker white tails and a more brilliant sky-blue upperside in males.

Orchid Tit

Features a distinct orange-yellow underside rather than the pearly grey found on the Common Tit.

Peacock Royal

Larger in size with more intense blue markings and more complex tail structures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common Tit butterflies are most active during the sunny morning hours from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM when they bask to warm up, and again in the mid-afternoon for feeding.
You can attract them by planting nectar-rich flowers like Lantana and Ixora, and by providing a 'puddling' spot consisting of damp, mineral-rich sand in a sunny location.
Adults drink floral nectar. Males also seek out minerals from damp earth. As caterpillars, they feed on the leaves of specific host plants like the Laurel and various tropical fruit trees.
Yes, they are very well-adapted to human environments and are one of the most frequent lycaenid visitors to suburban gardens and city parks across India and SE Asia.
The Common Tit has shorter, more delicate tails and a greyish underside, whereas the Fluffy Tit (Zeltus amasa) has much longer, conspicuous white tails that appear 'shaggy' or fluffy.

Record Common Tit at your habitat

Connect a camera to start building your own species record — AI identifies every visitor automatically.

Join free Identify a photo