Meadowhawks (Sympetrum) | ||||
Saffron-winged Meadowhawk (male) |
Saffron-winged Meadowhawk (immature male, female looks similar) |
Autumn Meadowhawk (male) |
Autumn Meadowhawk (female) |
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The Saffron-winged Meadowhawk generally has yellow to very dark brown veins along the front of the wings in both males and females | The Autumn Meadowhawk (formerly Yellow-legged Meadowhawk) is our only meadowhawk species that has no black on the legs.   Leg coloration ranges from nearly yellow to brown depending on age and sex, but never black | |||
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Cherry-faced Meadowhawk (male) |
White-faced Meadowhawk (male) |
White-faced Meadowhawk (immature male, female looks similar) |
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The Cherry-faced, White-faced and Ruby (not shown) Meadowhawks are very similar in appearance.   Some White-faced Meadowhawks (mature males as well some females and younger males) can generally be identified with relative certainty due to their bright white faces; however, all other ages/sexes of these 3 species can only be reliably identified through carefull examination of the shape of the hamules of males (secondary genitalia located under abdominal segment 2) and examination of genital plates of females.   For the most part, the identification of these 3 species (except individuals with bright white faces) goes beyond the scope of this website at this time. | ||||
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Band-winged Meadowhawk (male) |
Band-winged Meadowhawk (mature female) |
Black Meadowhawk (male) |
Black Meadowhawk (female) |
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The Band-winged Meadowhawk is our only meadowhawk species that has a large amber patch at the base of all 4 wings which covers 1/3 to 1/2 of the wing surface in both males and females (other species may have a very small amber patch at the base of the wings) | The Black Meadowhawk is different from our other meadowhawks because the males have no red on their body.   Females are generally darker than females of other species. |