Cherry-Faced Meadowhawk

Cherry-Faced Meadowhawk

Sympetrum internum

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Edmonton

In 3 days ~10% in a week ~30%

15 Verified sightings at Edmonton
18 In all 2 parks From 2019 to 2026
July Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Cherry-Faced Meadowhawk

Sympetrum internum, the cherry-faced meadowhawk, is a dragonfly of the genus Sympetrum. It is found across northern and central United States and most of Canada, including southern portions of Yukon and the Northwest Territories. Its abdomen is brown, turning dark red at maturity in both sexes. The sides of the abdomen are marked with black triangles and the legs are black. Some females have amber in basal areas of their wings. As their name suggests, faces are dark red when mature. Size: 21–36 mm (0.83–1.42 in). This species overlaps with and is difficult to distinguish from the ruby, saffron-winged, and white-faced meadowhawks. Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Rocky Mountain National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
2 Yellowstone National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Edmonton 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
2 Calgary 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Cherry-Faced Meadowhawk in Edmonton?

Rare

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Cherry-Faced Meadowhawk sighting in Edmonton on a given day, based on 15 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 159th most-seen of the 390 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Cherry-Faced Meadowhawk in Edmonton?

July and August

In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Cherry-Faced Meadowhawk in Edmonton on a given day, against under 5% in September to June, the lowest months. Those are among Edmonton's wettest months, with about 75 mm of rain a month against 20 mm in February.

What time of day is best to see a Cherry-Faced Meadowhawk?

Between noon and 3 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Cherry-Faced Meadowhawk sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Edmonton the best place to see a Cherry-Faced Meadowhawk?

Yes

Of the 2 cities where we can rate Cherry-Faced Meadowhawk sightings, Edmonton has the highest daily chance: under 5%. Next come Calgary (Canada, under 5%).

Which relatives of the Cherry-Faced Meadowhawk live in Edmonton?

Same genus: Sympetrum

The closest relatives of the Cherry-Faced Meadowhawk that you can see in Edmonton (genus Sympetrum, Meadowhawks) are Black Meadowhawk (about 10%) and Variegated Meadowhawk (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Cherry-Faced Meadowhawk sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Cherry-Faced Meadowhawk is recorded against all the insects logged in Edmonton (15 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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