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The Hudsonian Whiteface has a length of 27 to 30 mm. Male dragonflies are black and marked with red on the thorax and the abdomen with pointed spots on one end that form a line in the top side of the abdomen. The female is a dark brownish color and marked similarly to the male except the markings are yellow instead of black. Both sexes have creamy white faces. The naiad of the Hudsonian Whiteface has a length of 16 to 18 mm. Its abdomen is rounded, which gives it a short, stocky appearance known as the sprawler form. Naiads are brown with three dark stripes marking the length below the abdomen. In some cases, there are tiny hooks on abdominal segments three through six. Every side of abdominal segments eight and nine has a spine that points out away from the abdomen.

The immatures of these dragonflies live in underwater vegetation. They are opportunistic predators and wait for their prey. Immatureschange to adults at night. Many records of this species is sparse, adults are believed to fly from late May to mid-August. They also fly at different times. The hunting occurs from the shoreline vegetation, where this species perches. After mating, a male guards a female to prevent other males from mating with her. He does this by flying above her while she laying her eggs. It drives away other potential mates or maybe dragonflies of other species.The female lays her eggs by dipping the tip of her abdomen in the water while hovering above the surface.