Adult Richmond birdwings are very strong fliers usually active in the early morning and near dusk, when they can be easily observed feeding on flowers such as "Lantana" ("Lantana camara"), although eucalypt and "Melaleuca" flowers are also utilised. Observations of "O. richmondia" at other times of the day can lead to false impressions of their rarity, as the species can be locally abundant, albeit in small areas. Females are often observed some distance from their habitats and a migration of sorts has been noted in the QLD-NSW border ranges following years of exceptional rainfall. Such migrations allow populations of this species to establish in highland habitats over summer, although they die out over winter due to cold.