Racket-tailed Emerald

Among the emeralds, writes Paulson, the Racket-tailed is the easiest to photograph because it frequents forest clearings and paths and lands more frequently than other emeralds. This species is found from Minnesota into New England and southeastern Canada. This emerald eats blackflies and often cruises around people in search of these annoying arthropods. Erika and I found this lone Racket-tailed Emerald at the Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Dakota County, Minnesota.