Migrant Hawker

The Migrant Hawker is a medium-sized dragonfly with clear markings that make it easy to recognise from other hawker dragonflies. Males have a blue body with small pairs of spots and yellow veins along the front edge of the wings. Females are mostly brown with yellow markings and also have the same yellow veins. Both males and females have a yellow triangle on the second segment of their body and do not have the wide stripes on the upper side of the thorax that similar species have. Originally, this dragonfly was a rare visitor to Britain, but since the 1940s it has spread further north. It now breeds commonly across southern and central England and Wales. The Migrant Hawker prefers still or slow-moving water such as ponds, lakes, canals, and ditches, especially where there is plenty of plant life. The flight period lasts from late July to October. It often flies well into autumn, long after many other dragonflies have disappeared. Adult Migrant Hawkers often hunt away from water, in places like gardens, woodland paths, and hedgerows.