Monarch Butterflies in New Mexico in July

Yes, July is a good month to see monarch butterflies in New Mexico. It is the 4th busiest month of the year, with 123 of the 856 sightings logged across the year (14.4%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

Migratory Monarch photographed in New MexicoMonarch photographed in New MexicoMonarch photographed in New Mexico
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Good month for monarch butterflies in New Mexico

14.4%

of yearly sightings

123

records in July

#4

busiest month of 12

856

verified records a year

June 5%, July 14.4%, August 29.4%. Busiest month is August at 29.4%.

Best months: August, September, October

856 verified observations of monarch butterflies in New Mexico, recorded across 10 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When monarch butterflies are recorded in New Mexico

Peak month

August

252 records (29.4% of the year)

Quietest month

January

No verified records

MonthObservationsShare
January00%
February00%
March111.3%
April323.7%
May182.1%
June435%
July12314.4%
Augustpeak25229.4%
Septemberpeak19923.2%
Octoberpeak15217.8%
November232.7%
December30.4%

Monarch Butterflies you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Monarch856

In New Mexico, July carries 14.4% of the year's monarch butterflies sightings, about 6.1 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 4th busiest of the twelve months, out of 10 months with recorded activity.

Activity is rising from June (5%) into July, and it heads toward August (29.4%) after. The busiest month is August (29.4%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

The monarch butterflies most often recorded in New Mexico are Monarch. Those counts are annual totals rather than a July split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in July itself.

Which monarch butterflies you are most likely to see

  • Monarch856 records
Plan your tripBandelier National Monument

Plan your monarch butterfly trip in New Mexico

Start with live tours near Bandelier National Monument, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Frequently asked questions

Can you see monarch butterflies in New Mexico in July?+

Yes. July accounts for 123 of the 856 verified monarch butterflies sightings logged in New Mexico across the year, which is 14.4% of the annual total.

Is July a good time to see monarch butterflies in New Mexico?+

July is the 4th busiest month. It is workable, though August and September is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.

What month is best for monarch butterflies in New Mexico?+

August is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through August, September and October, based on 856 verified observations.

Which monarch butterflies are you most likely to see in New Mexico?+

The most-recorded species in New Mexico are Monarch, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.