Headless brown hawker dragonfly found on Tampere car likely beheaded by bird

A reader found the dragonfly on a car’s windshield wiper on August 18. Tomi Kumpulainen of the Tampere Natural History Museum identified it as a brown hawker (Aeshna grandis).

Kumpulainen noted its almost entirely brown colour, a wingspan of about 10 centimetres and the missing head, including the large compound eyes. He suggested an insect-eating bird such as a white wagtail had likely removed the head while carrying or feeding on the prey. Muscles can twitch briefly after decapitation. That would explain any short, involuntary movements before the insect went limp.

The sighting was sent to Aamulehti’s nature questions column; Kumpulainen normally handles reports from Pirkanmaa but answers other queries when possible. The museum has recently identified several reader sightings in the region, including a rare eastern bush‑cricket in Pirkanmaa and a colourful maple owlet moth caterpillar found on a Tampere bin lid.