The hawker group of dragonflies includes emperors, hawkers and hairy dragonfly. Migrant hawker is one of four species to have mainly blue or yellow spots down its abdomen. It is smaller than either southern or common hawker, and although a similar size to hairy dragonfly, it usually flies later in the season than that species. The pattern of markings at the top of the abdomen is unique, consisting of a yellow triangle above a blue band in male migrant hawkers and a yellow triangle above two large yellow spots in females. Common hawkers lack the triangle and southern hawkers have an extra band of green above the triangle. Hairy dragonflies have a completely different pattern altogether. Male migrant hawkers appear mainly blue, whereas females are greeny-yellow and brown.