Norfolk Hawker
Aeshna isoceles
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
49
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeshna_isoceles
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Odonata
Family
Aeshnidae
Genus
Aeshna
Norfolk Hawker belongs to the family Aeshnidae, order Odonata, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The Norfolk Hawker faces severe threats from habitat loss and degradation of its specialized wetland environments, particularly through drainage of grazing marshes and water level management changes. Climate change poses additional risks through altered precipitation patterns and increased frequency of extreme weather events that can disrupt breeding cycles and larval development in shallow water bodies.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Inhabits shallow, well-vegetated ditches, dykes, and grazing marshes with abundant emergent vegetation, particularly in coastal and lowland areas. Requires clean, slow-flowing or static water bodies with dense stands of aquatic plants for egg-laying and larval development.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Norfolk Hawker faces severe threats from habitat loss and degradation of its specialized wetland environments, particularly through drainage of grazing marshes and water level management changes. Climate change poses additional risks through altered precipitation patterns and increased frequency of extreme weather events that can disrupt breeding cycles and larval development in shallow water bodies.
Climate change impacts on wetland hydrology
Habitat loss and drainage of grazing marshes
Water level management and hydrological changes
Agricultural intensification and land use change
Pollution and eutrophication of water bodies
Found in 49 Countries
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Norfolk Hawker (Aeshna isoceles). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/norfolk-hawker