Species Spotlight: Band-winged Meadowhawk

Our next species is another meadowhawk—the Band-winged Meadowhawk. This is a species that is distinguished by extensive amber wing patches.

Here's a male Band-winged Meadowhawk, giving a good view of the wing patches:

Notice that the patches are darker on the hindwings than the forewings, but even there they are transparent. The patches extend out to the nodus of the wing—the little "bend" on the leading edge. Here's another view of this individual:

Other distinctive field marks of this species are the black side stripe on the abdomen, the yellow at the base of the abdomen, and additional yellow on the sides of the thorax.

The female is generally yellowish in color, which is typical in females and young males:

The female also has amber wing patches, like the male, which makes for easy identification.

Band-winged Meadowhawks have noticeable dorsal fovea—the red areas on the top of the eyes.

As can be seen, the eyes are red on top, and yellowish below. The red dorsal fovea are the areas of best vision. When the meadowhawk wants a good view of a prey item or a potential mate flying by, it points the dorsal fovea in that direction.