Brachytron pratense
In 3 days ~50% in a week ~80%
Brachytron is a monotypic genus of European dragonfly of the family Aeshnidae containing the hairy dragonfly (Brachytron pratense), also known as the hairy hawker or spring hawker. It is found in Europe and Asia Minor, as far east as the Caspian Sea. With a typical length of around 5.5 centimetres (2.2 in) it resides close to water bodies containing plants and has a flight season running from May to July.
The hairy dragonfly is named for its hairy thorax, distinguishing it from other hawkers. It has a long, narrow pterostigma (the coloured, sclerotized patch on the outer region of each wing). The antehumeral stripes are usually thin and green. The hairy dragonfly has coupled, oval-shaped markings on its abdomen, blue on males and yellow on females. It is smaller than other species in the genus Aeshna. It is the United Kingdom's smallest hawker.
The hairy dragonfly lives in ponds, lakes, fens, ditches, and canals rich in vegetation. Some plants that grow there include the common club rush, common reed, great fen sedge, and true bulrush. This dragonfly requires open and sunny areas with dense vegetation for protection. Here they are able to feed on flying... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hortobágy National Park | 🇭🇺 Hungary | |
| 2 | Biebrza National Park | 🇵🇱 Poland | |
| 3 | Wadden Sea National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany |
Possible
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Hairy Dragonfly sighting in Hortobágy National Park on a given day, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 19th most-seen of the 22 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 50%, and over a week to about 80%, if each day is a fresh chance.
May
In that month about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Hairy Dragonfly in Hortobágy National Park on a given day, against under 5% in March and July–October, the lowest months.
Between 10 am and 1 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Hairy Dragonfly sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 3 parks where we can rate Hairy Dragonfly sightings, Hortobágy National Park has the highest daily chance: about 20%. Next come Biebrza National Park (Poland, about 20%) and Wadden Sea National Park (Germany, under 5%).
Same order: Odonata
The closest relatives of the Hairy Dragonfly that you can see in Hortobágy National Park (order Odonata, Dragonflies and Damselflies) are Blue-Tailed Damselfly (about 40%) and Southern Darter (about 20%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Hairy Dragonfly is recorded against all the insects logged in Hortobágy National Park (5 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), 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.
