There’s a place on our country road where I consistently see red admiral butterflies when I’m out walking in the evening. They are territorial and tend to patrol the same area, chasing away other males that enter their space, and often returning to the same perch.
Recently I spotted the red admiral pictured below, flitting around, stopping occasionally to perch on a leaf and soak in the last bit of sunlight as the sun was setting in the westward sky. Its wings were so tattered that I wondered how it could possibly fly, but fly it did, without the least bit of obvious trouble.
“There’s no need to be perfect to inspire others. Let people get inspired by how you deal with your imperfections.” ~Unknown
walking on a country road 
They are beautiful, Rebecca.
Thanks,! The sunlight was in a good place for the colors to come out.
The quote is perfect for your beautiful photos.
Thanks, Kathy!
Perfect quote for that little guy!
Yes, I think he’s had a rough life. Thanks, Eliza!
Look how perfect the first one is and then you see the poor one with the tattered wings – if only he could tell you a tale of where he has been.
Yes, I’m sure he has a story to tell. Amazing how much of their wings can be missing and them still be able to fly.
Yes, maybe they rely on the wind for migrating long distances?
I wonder If they loose parts of their wings in fighting to keep territory? I’ve never heard of butterflies being territorial before?
It may have lost part of its wing trying to escape being eaten by predators such as birds. The red admiral butterflies are always in the same area when I walk in the late afternoon and I have observed them doing the same actions described in the following article: https://mariposa.public.iastate.edu/Perching.html
true,I did consider that but I figured there would be more butterfly fights than bird strikes happening?
You could be right.