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Norfolk Hawker Aeshna isosceles

The Norfolk hawker is a rare species, with clear wings, green eyes and the characteristic yellow triangle shape on the dragonfly’s body which make this endangered dragonfly very distinctive.

Conservation status in Norfolk

The Norfolk hawker, which has its stronghold in Norfolk, is a nationally rare dragonfly it is classified as endangered and is fully protected by law.

Click to see the Biodiversity Action Plan Species for this species

How to help

Create your own wetland habitat. Build a pond in your garden. You may not attract Norfolk hawkers but you will help other dragonfly species. Stock your pond with native plants, ensuring you have a good variety of submerged and marginal plants.

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Maurice Funnell

Maurice Funnell

Information on the Norfolk Hawker

How to recognise

There are two brown hawker dragonflies found in Britain, the Norfolk hawker and the brown hawker. Clear wings, green eyes and a yellow triangle shape on the second segment of the dragonfly’s body are the main distinguishing features that separate the Norfolk hawker from the more common brown hawker with its brown wings and brown eyes.

Where to see

The Norfolk hawker is a resident of the Norfolk Broads and north-east Suffolk. In Britain it tends to favour slow-flowing dykes and ditches where water soldier plants grow. The Norfolk hawker may be seen soaring above reed-fringed dykes hunting other insects or sitting perched on vegetation at NWT Hickling Broad and NWT Upton Broad and Marshes.

When to see

In late May and June mature dragonfly larvae (approximately 2 years old) climb out of the water onto an aquatic plant at night, where they emerge from their skin as adult dragonflies. Newly-emerged hawker dragonflies wait till early morning to fly off to wooded areas to feed. The adults reach sexual maturity after 2-3 weeks. The fight period of the Norfolk hawker usually finishes in mid-July.

Did you know?

Dragonflies are able to fly at speeds of up to 36km an hour, move their wings approximately 30 times a second and fly forwards, sideways and backwards.

Finding out more

The Dragonfly Society

Related questions

Where will I find a Norfolk hawker?

The Norfolk hawker is a resident of the Norfolk Broads and north-east Suffolk. In Britain it tends to favour slow-flowing dykes and ditches where water soldier plants grow. The Norfolk hawker may be seen soaring above reed-fringed dykes hunting other insects or sitting perched on vegetation at NWT Hickling Broad and NWT Upton Broad and Marshes from late May until mid-July. Other good sites to see Norfolk hawkers are the RSPB's Strumpshaw Fen nature reserve and Crome's Broad within How Hill Nature Reserve.
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