Can anyone identify this butterfly/moth?

I photographed it a couple of days ago in the Rockridge part of Oakland

California. I've been searching butterfly websites (though i haven't yet

checked out a butterfly book) and can't find it.<div></div>

check out this: http://monarchwatch.com/read/articles/nivosus.htm

Assuming it is not a photoshopped image with the butterfly desaturated, the butterfly is an "off color" Monarch.

Haveing a little fun, I see. It isn't real.

Plasticus legpulli

It's real. All I did was the usual Levels adjustment. In the RAW image the whitish parts look a little bit blue. And I thank Michael for telling me what it is.

Having photographed numerous Monarchs this very clearly is a plastic one.(and yes I have read about the white morphs)

 

1) Monarchs have almost a 'fur like' hair on their backs, this one does not.

 

2) Antennae from Monarchs are thread like; your photo shows very thick 'Antennae'. (Go check, there are over 28,000 photos on Google to compare it to)

 

3) You can even see the wire that was used to attach the 'Monarch' to the fence!

 

I truely hope you are just haveing a little fun with this not deluding yourself that you really found a rare white morph.

That is the most fake butterfly I have ever seen. Bogus antennae, wire holding it to the fence, etc. OP, are you serious, or what?

WOW! I'll have to believe you all since you know much more about butterflies than I do. I wondered why it didn't fly when I got close to it, but it never occurred to me that it would be plastic. But that's the kind of neighborhood where people would put plastic butterflies on their fences.

Another key field mark of the fake butterfly is the very "feathery" wings. Almost bird-like.