Head to head
Calico Pennant vs Eastern Pondhawk
A calico pennant and an eastern pondhawk are both colourful dragonflies commonly found around the same still, vegetated ponds, but their sizes, colours, and behaviour could hardly be more different.
| Calico Pennant | Eastern Pondhawk | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Celithemis elisa | Erythemis simplicicollis |
| Body size | Small, lightly built | Larger, more robust |
| Mature male colour | Vivid red with heart-shaped markings | Powdery blue |
| Preferred perch | Tips of grasses and reeds | Bare ground or low rocks |
| Hunting style | Catches small flying insects | Aggressively attacks prey near its own size |
| Habitat | Still, vegetated ponds and lakes | Ponds, lakes, slow-moving water |
| Range | Eastern US, southeastern Canada | Most of the US |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Calico Pennant vs Eastern Pondhawk: common questions
How can you tell a calico pennant from an eastern pondhawk?
Size and colour make the two easy to separate: the calico pennant is small and delicate with a distinctive row of red or yellow heart-shaped markings down its abdomen, while the eastern pondhawk is considerably larger and shows either bright green or, in mature males, a powdery blue body colour without any heart-shaped pattern.
Which dragonfly is more aggressive, the calico pennant or the eastern pondhawk?
The eastern pondhawk is by far the more aggressive of the two, willing to attack and consume prey close to its own body size, including other dragonflies, while the calico pennant sticks to catching smaller flying insects like mosquitoes and midges from its perch at the tip of a reed or grass stem.
Do the calico pennant and eastern pondhawk perch in the same places?
No, the calico pennant typically perches loosely at the swaying tips of grasses, reeds, or twigs overhanging the water, while the eastern pondhawk more often perches directly on bare ground or low rocks near the water's edge, a lower, more exposed vantage point suited to ambushing prey rather than displaying from vegetation.