Winter
Fall | Winter | Spring
Getting
Started
Monarch butterfly cluster in Mexico Monarch butterfly cluster in Mexico Monarch butterflies flying from cluster in Mexico Monarch butterflies in flight preparing for spring departure from Mexico

 

Journey North begins in February when the monarchs are at their winter refuge deep in central Mexico. The monarch's unique winter habitat is found on only 12 mountaintops on the planet, and the monarch's story is one of nature's most incredible examples of adaptation and survival.

Spring migration begins in March, and an announcement comes from Mexico that the monarchs are on their way. After living off their fat reserves all winter, tens of millions of monarch butterflies head northward. With just a few weeks to live, they race to produce the next generation.

In a unique partnership, you can join students and scientists across North America this spring to track the monarch butterfly's migration from Mexico.

Discover
The Monarch's Winter Habitat
Explore
Population and Conservation Issues
Watch
for Monarchs and Milkweed
Report Your Sightings and Track Migration
Monarch butterfly migration map Monarch Butterfly Migration Map
Report Your Sightings Share the Map
   

Report your sightings to each fall and spring as the monarchs travel to and from Mexico.
Track migration on real-time migration maps.
Help scientists learn more about monarchs.