Ebony Jewelwing

Description:

Wings of immature adults light to dark brownish; wings of mature adult males solid black; wings of females dark gray, shading to almost black apically, and with a conspicuous white spot at tip; male body metallic green or bluish; female body dark grayish or black. Not a strong flier: adults flutter, butterfly-like, a short distance when disturbed. They are easy to get close to as long as you approach slowly and don't make any sudden movements. Ebony Jewelwings prefer sunny spots in the woods but usually perch only a minute or two before flitting to another nearby spot

Habitat:

Found in eastern two-thirds of US and eastern half of Canada along wooded slow-moving streams and small rivers; nymphs develop in water; adults often perch on low shrubbery in sun-lit openings in forest canopy.

Notes:

Found in Cades Cove area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.