Why do butterflies have colourful wings? Colourful wings help butterflies to identify each other. Male and female butterflies have different patterns and colours on their wings. Butterflies are able to see colours and patterns. Coloured wings help butterflies to hide their selves from birds and enemies. Some butterflies have spots on their wings, which looks like big eyes. The eyes scare enemies away. Some brightly coloured butterflies, like monarchs taste really bad to birds that feed on them. Birds learn not to eat these butterflies. Other butterflies have simpler tricks. They look like bad tasting butterflies.