Ruddy Darter
Flight period: mid June to mid September.
The Ruddy Darter takes its name from its colour and its swift flight behaviour. The male has a deep russet colour over the entire body and the abdomen has a pinched section close to where it joins the thorax. Females are slightly smaller, golden yellow in colour and being less obviously marked are more difficult to identify than the males. There is more than one red coloured darter species in the UK and they can be easily confused with each other. The commonest red species, the Common Darter, can be distinguished as having red veins at the base of the wings and a less ruddy colouration across the body. However, the Ruddy Darter has entirely black legs, distinguishing it from all other red darters which have longitudinal yellow stripes on their legs.
The UK range of the Ruddy Darter has undergone something of an expansion in recent years. Although still relatively uncommon in the west and north of Britain, it is increasing in numbers in the Midlands and eastern England. The population is augmented by continental migrants. It is also found over most of Europe except for northern Scandinavia, as far east as western Siberia and south to north Africa.
The Ruddy Darter prefers water bodies with tall emergent vegetation, such as reeds and club rush, and it is known to breed in ponds, lakes, canals, ditches and sluggish rivers. They can also be found near coasts and can breed in fairly brackish water.
Date: 29th June 2024
Location: Laindon, Essex
The Ruddy Darter takes its name from its colour and its swift flight behaviour. The male has a deep russet colour over the entire body and the abdomen has a pinched section close to where it joins the thorax. Females are slightly smaller, golden yellow in colour and being less obviously marked are more difficult to identify than the males. There is more than one red coloured darter species in the UK and they can be easily confused with each other. The commonest red species, the Common Darter, can be distinguished as having red veins at the base of the wings and a less ruddy colouration across the body. However, the Ruddy Darter has entirely black legs, distinguishing it from all other red darters which have longitudinal yellow stripes on their legs.
The UK range of the Ruddy Darter has undergone something of an expansion in recent years. Although still relatively uncommon in the west and north of Britain, it is increasing in numbers in the Midlands and eastern England. The population is augmented by continental migrants. It is also found over most of Europe except for northern Scandinavia, as far east as western Siberia and south to north Africa.
The Ruddy Darter prefers water bodies with tall emergent vegetation, such as reeds and club rush, and it is known to breed in ponds, lakes, canals, ditches and sluggish rivers. They can also be found near coasts and can breed in fairly brackish water.
Date: 29th June 2024
Location: Laindon, Essex
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