Autumn meadowhawk
It flies later into autumn than almost any other dragonfly in North America, often lasting into November after most other dragonflies have disappeared.
| Where | Ponds, marshes and slow streams |
|---|---|
| Size | 26 to 36 mm body length |
| When | July to November |
The Autumn meadowhawk is a slender, pale reddish dragonfly with a plain red face and yellowish or dusky legs, unlike the similar White-faced meadowhawk, which has a pale white face and black legs.
Adults fly later into the year than most other dragonflies, often lasting into November, and are commonly seen perched on low vegetation near ponds, marshes and slow streams.
Traits
Habitat
Wetland
Colour
Red, Yellow, Brown
Active
Day
To people
Adults often perch calmly within reach and can sometimes be approached closely; they do not bite or sting people.
Activity through the year
Often confused with
It has a pale white face and black legs, while the Autumn meadowhawk has a plain red face and yellowish or dusky legs.
Questions
Is the Autumn meadowhawk dangerous to people?
Adults often perch calmly within reach and can sometimes be approached closely; they do not bite or sting people.
When can you see the Autumn meadowhawk?
The Autumn meadowhawk can be seen from July to November, by day.
Plate retouched from a photo by Jimmy Dee, CC BY‑SA 4.0, iNaturalist Licence
The plate on this page is shared under the same licence as its source, CC BY-SA.
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Dragonflies and damselflies›Skimmers›Sympetrum
Last updated 2026-09-26. Every entry is checked against published sources.