Quick answer
IUCN status: Near ThreatenedWallace's golden birdwing at a glance
Wallace's golden birdwing (Ornithoptera croesus) is an invertebrate in the family Papilionidae. Range in Indonesia: North Maluku (Bacan, Halmahera and Morotai). It is endemic to Indonesia, living naturally only in North Maluku (Bacan, Halmahera, Ternate, Tidore and possibly Morotai). Diet: caterpillars: Aristolochia leaves; adults: Mussaenda nectar; a herbivore. IUCN Red List status: Near Threatened. It is a legally protected species in Indonesia (Regulation P.106/2018).
| Scientific name | Ornithoptera croesus |
|---|---|
| Indonesian name | Kupu-kupu sayap burung Wallace |
| Group | Invertebrates |
| Family | Papilionidae |
| Range in Indonesia | North Maluku (Bacan, Halmahera and Morotai) |
| Linked habitats | Tropical Rainforests |
| Diet | Caterpillars: Aristolochia leaves; adults: Mussaenda nectar |
| Range in Indonesia | Bacan, Halmahera and Morotai, North Maluku |
| Key feature | Orange-gold male wings, 130–150 mm span |
| Other names | Kupu-kupu sayap burung Wallace |
| IUCN status | Near Threatened · IUCN Red List (via GBIF) · checked 1 October 2026 |
| Legal protection in Indonesia | Protected · Regulation P.106/2018 · annex no. 756 |
| Diet type | Herbivore (plant-eater) — caterpillars eat the leaves of pipevines (Aristolochia) · Swallowtail & Birdwing Butterfly Trust |
| Reproduction | Laying eggs (oviparous) · Animal Diversity Web |
| Active | Diurnal (active by day) — More active in the morning than at midday or in the afternoon. · Mas'ud, Corebima, Amin & Rohman 2019/2020, Kupu-Kupu Endemik Pulau Bacan Ornithoptera croesus dan Strategi Konservasinya (research-based book; PDF hosted by FMIPA Universitas Negeri Malang) |
| Endemic to Indonesia | Yes — North Maluku (Bacan, Halmahera, Ternate, Tidore and possibly Morotai) · Swallowtail & Birdwing Butterfly Trust |
In this guide (12)
What is Wallace's golden birdwing?
Wallace's golden birdwing (Ornithoptera croesus) is a large butterfly of the swallowtail family, Papilionidae, whose male is orange-gold and which lives only in North Maluku. Alfred Russel Wallace found it on Bacan Island and named it in 1859.
The IUCN Red Data Book text, republished by the Swallowtail & Birdwing Butterfly Trust, gives wingspans of 130–150 mm for males and 160–190 mm for females. The male's forewing is very dark brown with a shining orange band, and the hindwing is orange with golden-yellow patches. The female of the Bacan subspecies is brown with white markings. The male's golden-yellow colour is described as unique among birdwings.
Evidence: Swallowtail & Birdwing Butterfly Trust — Wallace's golden birdwing: Ornithoptera croesus ↗ · Treubia (BRIN) — Peggie (2022), Trade and threats on Ornithoptera croesus in North Maluku, Indonesia ↗
Where does Wallace's golden birdwing live?
Wallace's golden birdwing lives only in North Maluku, on the islands of Bacan, Halmahera and Morotai. Each island has its own subspecies: O. c. croesus on Bacan, O. c. lydius on Halmahera and O. c. toeantei on Morotai. Some authors also recognise subspecies from Kasiruta and Mandioli.
According to Peggie (2022), it is very likely extinct on Ternate after Mount Gamalama erupted in 1983. On Bacan it lives in natural forest in the Gunung Sibela Nature Reserve and has been recorded from 20 to 800 metres above sea level.
Evidence: Treubia (BRIN) — Peggie (2022), Trade and threats on Ornithoptera croesus in North Maluku, Indonesia ↗ · Treubia (BRIN) — Peggie et al. (2021), Assessing an in-situ semi-natural breeding approach for Ornithoptera croesus on Bacan Island ↗
What does Wallace's golden birdwing eat?
The caterpillars of Wallace's golden birdwing eat the leaves of Aristolochia and Pararistolochia vines, while adults feed on flower nectar. In the Gunung Sibela forest, researchers found Pararistolochia as the natural larval food plant, and older records also list Aristolochia gaudichaudii. At a breeding site in Labuha, Bacan, caterpillars preferred Aristolochia acuminata.
Adults mainly visit Mussaenda, which has large white petal-like calyx lobes, while nearby Hibiscus flowers were ignored. Like other swallowtails, it keeps its wings moving while it feeds.
Evidence: Treubia (BRIN) — Peggie et al. (2021), Assessing an in-situ semi-natural breeding approach for Ornithoptera croesus on Bacan Island ↗ · Swallowtail & Birdwing Butterfly Trust — Wallace's golden birdwing: Ornithoptera croesus ↗
How does Wallace's golden birdwing behave?
Wallace's golden birdwing is a strong, long-range flyer that ranges over wide areas of forest and is seldom seen. In surveys at Gunung Sibela in 2018 and 2019, researchers saw only two to four individuals each time.
At a breeding site on Bacan the butterflies were active by about 08:30, and males met females while feeding at flowers. Females lay eggs on the larval food plants, and the caterpillars pass through five instars before pupating. Because it needs a large area to fly, the species depends on extensive natural forest.
Evidence: Treubia (BRIN) — Peggie et al. (2021), Assessing an in-situ semi-natural breeding approach for Ornithoptera croesus on Bacan Island ↗ · Treubia (BRIN) — Peggie (2022), Trade and threats on Ornithoptera croesus in North Maluku, Indonesia ↗
Why is Wallace's golden birdwing threatened?
Wallace's golden birdwing is threatened by forest loss and strong demand from collectors. Peggie (2022) saw trees being cut in logging concessions and on the lower slopes of the Gunung Sibela Nature Reserve, and notes possible illegal direct capture.
The species is listed on CITES Appendix II. CITES trade data show Indonesia exporting thousands of specimens a year in 2011–2016, including 6,113 reported by the exporter in 2011. Because of confusion over the source codes used, Indonesian authorities voluntarily suspended its trade in 2017. The IUCN assessed it as Near Threatened in 2018.
Evidence: Treubia (BRIN) — Peggie (2022), Trade and threats on Ornithoptera croesus in North Maluku, Indonesia ↗ · Treubia (BRIN) — Peggie et al. (2021), Assessing an in-situ semi-natural breeding approach for Ornithoptera croesus on Bacan Island ↗
How can Wallace's golden birdwing be protected?
Wallace's golden birdwing is protected under Indonesian regulation P.106/2018, so direct collection from the wild is prohibited and trade can be allowed only for specimens from captive breeding. Since 2013 a semi-natural breeding site at Labuha, Bacan, has grown hundreds of food and nectar plants so that wild butterflies come to lay eggs. Some of the adults raised there are released back to the wild.
Researchers stress that North Maluku's remaining forests must be protected. People can help by not catching these butterflies and by not buying specimens without official documents.
Evidence: JDIH Kementerian Kehutanan — Permen LHK P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 tentang Jenis Tumbuhan dan Satwa yang Dilindungi (PDF, dengan lampiran) ↗ · Treubia (BRIN) — Peggie (2022), Trade and threats on Ornithoptera croesus in North Maluku, Indonesia ↗ · Treubia (BRIN) — Peggie et al. (2021), Assessing an in-situ semi-natural breeding approach for Ornithoptera croesus on Bacan Island ↗
Explore related habitats
These habitat relationships are supported by species sources in this guide. This is not a complete range map.
Scientific classification of the Wallace's golden birdwing
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Arthropoda |
| Class | Insecta |
| Order | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Papilionidae |
| Genus | Ornithoptera |
| Species | Ornithoptera croesus |
Source: GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, adjusted to the ranks commonly used in school biology (for example class Reptilia).
Common questions about Wallace's golden birdwing
What is the scientific name of Wallace's golden birdwing?
The scientific name of Wallace's golden birdwing is Ornithoptera croesus, in the family Papilionidae. In Indonesian it is called Kupu-kupu sayap burung Wallace.
What kind of animal is Wallace's golden birdwing?
Wallace's golden birdwing is an invertebrate in the family Papilionidae. By diet it is a herbivore (plant-eater): a caterpillars eat the leaves of pipevines (Aristolochia). It is also endemic to Indonesia.
Where does Wallace's golden birdwing live in Indonesia?
In Indonesia, this guide records Wallace's golden birdwing in: North Maluku (Bacan, Halmahera and Morotai).
Wallace's golden birdwing is endemic to Indonesia and lives naturally only in North Maluku (Bacan, Halmahera, Ternate, Tidore and possibly Morotai). Source: Swallowtail & Birdwing Butterfly Trust.
Source-supported habitats: Tropical Rainforests.
What does Wallace's golden birdwing eat?
Diet of Wallace's golden birdwing: caterpillars: Aristolochia leaves; adults: Mussaenda nectar. That makes it a herbivore (plant-eater). Source: Swallowtail & Birdwing Butterfly Trust.
How does Wallace's golden birdwing reproduce?
Wallace's golden birdwing reproduces by laying eggs (oviparous). Source: Animal Diversity Web.
Is Wallace's golden birdwing nocturnal?
The cited source records Wallace's golden birdwing as diurnal (active by day). More active in the morning than at midday or in the afternoon. Source: Mas'ud, Corebima, Amin & Rohman 2019/2020, Kupu-Kupu Endemik Pulau Bacan Ornithoptera croesus dan Strategi Konservasinya (research-based book; PDF hosted by FMIPA Universitas Negeri Malang).
See also the list of nocturnal and diurnal animals in Indonesia.
What are the main features of Wallace's golden birdwing?
Key features of Wallace's golden birdwing, from this guide’s sources: Key feature: orange-gold male wings, 130–150 mm span.
What is the scientific classification of Wallace's golden birdwing?
Scientific classification of Wallace's golden birdwing: kingdom Animalia, phylum Arthropoda, class Insecta, order Lepidoptera, family Papilionidae, genus Ornithoptera, species Ornithoptera croesus.
Source: GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, adjusted to the ranks commonly used in school biology.
Is Wallace's golden birdwing endangered?
Not yet in a threatened category, but close to one. On the IUCN Red List, Wallace's golden birdwing is listed as Near Threatened: it is close to qualifying, or likely to qualify, for a threatened category in the near future. Source: IUCN Red List (via GBIF), checked 1 October 2026.
This global category is separate from national legal protection. Is Wallace's golden birdwing protected in Indonesia?
Is Wallace's golden birdwing protected in Indonesia?
Yes. Wallace's golden birdwing (Ornithoptera croesus) is a protected species in Indonesia under Environment and Forestry Ministerial Regulation No. P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 on protected plant and animal species (annex, entry 756).
Article 21(2) of Law No. 5 of 1990, as amended by Law No. 32 of 2024, prohibits anyone from hunting, catching, injuring, killing, storing, owning, keeping, transporting or trading a protected animal, alive or dead, including its body parts, eggs and nests.
If you see this animal being traded, kept or injured, contact the local BKSDA office.
Can Wallace's golden birdwing be kept as a pet?
No. Because Wallace's golden birdwing is a protected species, catching, owning, keeping, transporting or trading it without a permit is prohibited by law. Trading without a permit through electronic media is also prohibited.
If you see this animal for sale or being kept, report it to the local BKSDA office.
Sources & references
- Treubia (BRIN) — Peggie et al. (2021), Assessing an in-situ semi-natural breeding approach for Ornithoptera croesus on Bacan Island ↗
- Treubia (BRIN) — Peggie (2022), Trade and threats on Ornithoptera croesus in North Maluku, Indonesia ↗
- Swallowtail & Birdwing Butterfly Trust — Wallace's golden birdwing: Ornithoptera croesus ↗
- JDIH Kementerian Kehutanan — Permen LHK P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 tentang Jenis Tumbuhan dan Satwa yang Dilindungi (PDF, dengan lampiran) ↗
- Animal Diversity Web ↗
- Mas'ud, Corebima, Amin & Rohman 2019/2020, Kupu-Kupu Endemik Pulau Bacan Ornithoptera croesus dan Strategi Konservasinya (research-based book; PDF hosted by FMIPA Universitas Negeri Malang) ↗
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (GBIF) ↗
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, version 2026-1, via GBIF (CC BY 4.0) ↗
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Credit PanduanHewan when referring to this page. Check the original evidence sources before reusing a claim.
PanduanHewan. Wallace's golden birdwing (Ornithoptera croesus). Last substantive update: 1 October 2026. https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/wallaces-golden-birdwing/