Hummingbirds aren't the only visitors to hummingbird feeders. Downy woodpeckers, orioles, and even some warblers are frequent visitors. Bats, squirrels, raccoons, and other mammals have a sweet tooth. Bees, wasps, and ants may also show up. And every now and then, a moth that looks surprisingly hummingbird-like appears.
Sphinx moths are often mistaken for hummingbirds. No hummingbirds have rosy patches on their wings.
Several different species of nectar-feeding moths are all called "hummingbird moths" for their similar habits and even similar appearance to hummingbirds. Being moths, they don't have a bird's beak, but they roll their mouthparts in and out of the nectar. Moths have antennae; these can appear quite feather-like on many species, including some hummingbird moths, but unlike birds, lack any actual feathers. Hummingbird moths have large dark eyes that look very birdlike, especially from a distance.
This clear-wing moth is one of the many hummingbird moths.
Bees, wasps, and ants can become a nuisance at hummingbird feeders, both for people and for hummingbirds, but hummingbird moths don't cause problems for us or hummers. If you're lucky enough to spot one, sit back and enjoy!
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By Dan Heims, President, Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc.
Photographs courtesy of Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc.
Terra Nova’s breeders have created a series of outstanding world-class echinaceas that are consistent in size, bloom power, color intensity and are a pollinator buffet. What’s not to like.
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