A female Blue Marsh Hawk (Orthetrum glaucum) photographed in the Periyar Tiger Reserve. In some species of dragonfly, the male and female are remarkably similar. Blue Marsh Hawk males are similar to females, although their ‘face-plate’ is significantly darker and the abdomen is lacking the prominent yellow stripes present on the females.

Interestingly enough, the color of the male itself changes drastically over its maturation period. The teneral male (of which my pictures are unfortunately sub-par) is actually significantly more yellow than when mature, and all areas of the head are a brighter color.