Wildlife Wednesday: It's a bird... It's a plane... It's actually a moth!
- Gabriella Cilento
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
By Gabriella Cilento, Development Assistant
At first glance, you might have thought you just saw a hummingbird flittering amongst the flowers. Darting through the air, hovering in place, sipping nectar, all the classic hallmarks of hummingbird. However, with the vast mimicry in nature, looks (and names) can be deceiving. This video is a perfect example of that mimicry. It's not a hummingbird or a bumblebee, but a hummingbird clearwing moth!
The hummingbird clearwing (Hemaris thysbe) is a member of the family Sphingidae, commonly called sphinx or hawk moths. Many of the caterpillars in this family are known as hornworms. With their quick and agile flying ability, it's easy to see how at a glance they are mistaken for hummingbirds. It is only when they pause and hover to sip nectar can you get a better look.
Coloration can vary greatly between individuals, and historically, it has often mistakenly been described as multiple distinct species. Typically the thorax is a shade of olive, while the abdomen ranges from black to burgundy. When the moth first emerges from its cocoon, its wings are covered in solid dark reddish-black scales. However, when it begins to fly, many of the scales on its wings fall off, leaving a mostly clear wing (hence the very descriptive name, the clearwing moth).
Speaking of flight, their hovering ability is particularly unique. Amongst other nectar feeders, it has only evolved four times: in hummingbirds, nectar-feeding bats, hoverflies, and these moths. Clearwings are also able to rapidly fly from side to side, allowing them to navigate between flowers and avoid predators that may be lurking.
Hummingbird clearwings are found in forests, meadows, and even in cultivated gardens. They show a preference for pink and purple flowers, such as those in the video taken by our Restoration Ecologist, Brittany Hernon, at our Kenneglenn Preserve.
Hummingbird clearwings remind us that nature doesn't always fit neatly into the categories we expect. Something that looks like a bird might just be an incredible little insect.
