Under recent climate change, many species are rapidly shifting their geographic ranges. Although there is a general trend toward poleward and upslope geographic range shifts, there is still considerable variation in the magnitude and even direction of contemporary range shifts. Theory suggests that specialization might constrain range shift responses. We tested this idea using a long-term monitoring dataset of butterfly range dynamics. Specifically, we examined associations between the magnitude and direction of range shift responses and degree of specialization. Overall, we found broad support for a trade-off between the magnitude of the range shift response and degree of specialization. Further, we found evidence that range position, relative to the location of the monitoring sites in the Midwestern United States, also explained variation in the range shift response. In effect, range dynamics were different at the leading versus trailing range edges. Our results suggest that species-level traits such as ecological specialization, and consideration of population-level responses at leading versus trailing range edges, can help to resolve variation in range shift responses to recent climate change. Such associations could further aid in predicting where species might be found in the future as the environment continues to change.