United States and Canada
45-50 mm. A broad-winged skimmer with outstanding long range flight capabilities. A migratory species that often is seen in large swarms flying rapidly and erratic. Spot-winged Glider perches vertically in trees, typically higher than Wandering Glider. Attracted to temporary, often newly created, wetlands for breeding.
Range: Found across North America, but lacking from much of the Great Plains. Moves up Pacific coast in late summer.
Identification: Mature male with brownish-red eyes and dull red face. Thorax brown with pair of broad pale stripes in front and 2 laterally. Hind wings distinctly broad at base, with a small dark spot along inner edge close to the rear edge. Abdomen brown to yellowish brown with fine dark stripes on sutures and a black middorsal stripe that expands slightly on each segment. Each segment also with whitish spot on either side of midline. Female and juvenile male essentially the same as mature male.
Similar species: This species is most similar to the Wandering Glider, but darker (that species is bright yellow) and with a spot in the base of the hind wing. Striped Saddlebags have narrow abdomens and a much longer extended stripe in the base of the hind wing.
