Spring 2003 saw the publication of the second Kaufman Field Guide, Butterflies of North America. It is the only compact field guide to treat every species of butterfly that occurs regularly in North America north of the Mexican border, from south Texas to the Arctic. Using the same method of illustration as Birds of North America, it features more than 2,200 pictures of butterflies in natural poses, in digital images based on photographs. The illustrations show most butterflies from both above and below. Males and females are both illustrated if they look noticeably different, and regional variations are shown as well. Range maps show where each species is common or rare, and the facing-page format means that illustrations, text, and map for each butterfly are all visible at a glance.

Once again a "Pictorial Table of Contents" will lead quickly to the right section of the book, even for someone who has never looked at butterflies before, and color tabs help with navigating through the various sections. Everything about the design was intended to live up to the claim that the Kaufman Guides are "the most user-friendly guides ever published" in a particular subject.

In September 2006, a new printing of the field guide was published. This printing added four new color plates of butterflies that are rare visitors from Mexico to southern Texas or Arizona, reflecting the increased interest of butterfly-watchers in searching for such rare strays from the tropics. This printing also updated the classification and scientific names of all the butterflies, to bring them into line with the very latest nomenclature used by scientists.