Then I happened to be looking at the Hummingbird page in my new Birds of New York Field Guide (by Stan Tekiela). And in the section called "Compare", it said as follows: "No other bird is as tiny. The Sphinx Moth also hovers at flowers but has clear wings and a mouth part that looks like a straw which coils up when not at flowers. Doesn't hum in flight, moves much slower than the Hummingbird and can be approached. " Sounds just the chap. Golly, thanks, Stan! Nice to know my mind is not yet completely addled.
A Londoner's musings from rural Western New York - and sometimes elsewhere
Monday, September 2, 2013
A Strange Creature
Then I happened to be looking at the Hummingbird page in my new Birds of New York Field Guide (by Stan Tekiela). And in the section called "Compare", it said as follows: "No other bird is as tiny. The Sphinx Moth also hovers at flowers but has clear wings and a mouth part that looks like a straw which coils up when not at flowers. Doesn't hum in flight, moves much slower than the Hummingbird and can be approached. " Sounds just the chap. Golly, thanks, Stan! Nice to know my mind is not yet completely addled.
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I was just reading that this is becoming more common in the UK and is causing a great deal of confusion.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/watchingbirds/identify/hummingbirdhawkmoth/
I meant to say a similar moth is in the UK, not this exact same moth and causes confusion.
ReplyDeleteThe hummingbird moths are among my favorite tiny creatures. Exquisite! ~ Rosemary in Ohio
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