The Blue-eyed Darner is a large, handsome western darner with a rich blue-and-black pattern and vivid blue eyes. It is one of the most common darners in western North America, hawking insects over ponds and wetlands in long, sustained flight. Males patrol territories over open water for extended periods, rarely landing.
Best time to see a Blue-eyed Darner
The best time to see a Blue-eyed Darner is June–August, when about 60% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 8,816 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Blue-eyed Darner? What bug is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Blue-eyed Darner sightings near you
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