The Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia) is a very common dragonfly across the entire U.S. The male has large black patches on clear wings with a white abdomen, but the female is quite different, lacking the white abdomen and showing a different wing pattern. The photo of the male at left was a digital capture in western Travis Co., Texas in April 2003 with a Canon EOS 10D and EF 70-200 F2.8 L lens with 2X extender. The photo of the first female Common Whitetail shown below was shot in Austin, Travis Co., Texas in July, 2002 with a Canon EOS 1V and EF 300 mm F4 L IS lens with a 2X extender on Fuji Provia F. See the third photo below for caption and other data.

The male Common Whitetail on the left was in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in August, 2007 and was shot with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.

The male Common Whitetail on the left was in Rockwall, Rockwall Co., Texas in August, 2007 and was shot with the same gear as above.

The immature male Common Whitetail on the left was in Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas, in August, 2007 and was shot with the same gear as above.

The female Common Whitetail on the left was at Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in August, 2007 and was shot with the same gear as above.

The male Common Whitetail on the left was near Unity, Baker Co., Oregon, in July, 2008 and was photographed with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender.

The shots of the male Common Whitetail on the left and in the next 2 shots below were taken along the Little Black River in Ripley Co., Missouri, in June, 2009. These shots were all taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash. One shot below shows two male whitetails on the same perch while another shows a male Common Whitetail and a male Spangled Skimmer (Libellula cyanea).