Male and female pondhawks have different colourations. Females and immature males are green, with black markings along the abdomen, while mature males are powder blue. It is not uncommon to see intermediate males that appear half-green and half-blue. Both sexes have white appendages at the end of the abdomen and green faces (they are the only skimmer in our area with this combination). While male Blue Dashers superficially resemble the mature male pondhawks, Blue Dashers have white faces, and the last few segments are black.