Invertebrates
Brown Hawker
Aeshna grandis
Along the edge of a canal on a warm September afternoon, a brown hawker patrols a long beat, its amber-tinted wings glowing like stained glass as it turns in the light.
Overview
The brown hawker, Aeshna grandis, is a Least Concern dragonfly of ponds, lakes, canals, and slow rivers across Europe and into western Asia. Its rich brown body, golden wings, and long autumn flight season make it one of the most distinctive of the large hawker dragonflies.
A dragonfly with golden wings
The amber tint in the brown hawker’s wings is unusual among large dragonflies, and makes it easy to recognise even at a distance.
Status
Least Concern, widespread and common.
Brown Hawker: common questions
How can you recognise a brown hawker?
It has a rich brown body and wings tinted amber that glow golden in the sun, which set it apart from other hawkers.
When does the brown hawker fly?
It flies from midsummer into autumn, and can still be seen on warm days in October.
How does it hunt?
It flies long beats along the edges of ponds, canals, and slow rivers, catching insects on the wing.
Where is the brown hawker found?
It lives around ponds, lakes, canals, and slow rivers across Europe and into western Asia.