Dragonflies in Colorado in September

Yes, September is a good month to see dragonflies in Colorado. It is the 4th busiest month of the year, with 3,347 of the 25,566 sightings logged across the year (13.1%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

Vivid Dancer photographed in ColoradoBlue-eyed Darner photographed in ColoradoRed Rock Skimmer photographed in Colorado
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Good month for dragonflies in Colorado

13.1%

of yearly sightings

3,347

records in September

#4

busiest month of 12

25,566

verified records a year

August 24.6%, September 13.1%, October 3.9%. Busiest month is July at 33.7%.

Best months: July, August, JunePeak season right now

25,566 verified observations of dragonflies in Colorado, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When dragonflies are recorded in Colorado

Peak month

July

8,619 records (33.7% of the year)

Quietest month

February

2 records

MonthObservationsShare
January50%
February20%
March190.1%
April1740.7%
May8953.5%
Junepeak5,15720.2%
Julypeak8,61933.7%
Augustpeak6,28524.6%
September3,34713.1%
October9903.9%
November680.3%
December50%

Dragonflies you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Band-winged Meadowhawk1,628
Widow Skimmer1,458
Variegated Meadowhawk1,417
Great Spreadwing963
Plains Forktail955
Familiar Bluet892
Twelve-spotted Skimmer858
Common Whitetail821

In Colorado, September carries 13.1% of the year's dragonflies sightings, about 4.8 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 4th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is easing off from August (24.6%) into September, and it heads toward October (3.9%) after. The busiest month is July (33.7%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

The dragonflies most often recorded in Colorado are Band-winged Meadowhawk, Widow Skimmer and Variegated Meadowhawk. Those counts are annual totals rather than a September split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in September itself.

Which dragonflies you are most likely to see

  • Band-winged Meadowhawk1,628 records
  • Widow Skimmer1,458 records
  • Variegated Meadowhawk1,417 records
  • Great Spreadwing963 records
  • Plains Forktail955 records
  • Familiar Bluet892 records
Plan your tripBent's Old Fort National Historic Site

Plan your dragonfly trip in Colorado

Start with live tours near Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Frequently asked questions

Can you see dragonflies in Colorado in September?+

Yes. September accounts for 3,347 of the 25,566 verified dragonflies sightings logged in Colorado across the year, which is 13.1% of the annual total.

Is September a good time to see dragonflies in Colorado?+

September is the 4th busiest month. It is workable, though July and August is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.

What month is best for dragonflies in Colorado?+

July is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through July, August and June, based on 25,566 verified observations.

Which dragonflies are you most likely to see in Colorado?+

The most-recorded species in Colorado are Band-winged Meadowhawk, Widow Skimmer and Variegated Meadowhawk, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.