Hummingbird Hawkmoth
Macroglossum stellatarum
Tap image to enlarge · Wikimedia Commons
Overview
Meeting a Hummingbird Hawkmoth is always a moment. It hovers in front of flowers, tongue extended into the tube, with audible wing-beats — exactly like a tiny hummingbird. Its speed and behaviour are so convincing that many people genuinely believe they're watching a hummingbird. It's a day-flying moth from southern Europe that migrates to Britain in summer. John Dempsey of Green Sefton specifically names it as a Sefton Coast delight.
At a Glance
| Order | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Sphingidae |
| Habitat | Garden · Open dune grassland with flowers · Coastal scrub |
| Diet | Nectar from flowers — hovers while feeding, preferring Red Valerian, Verbena, Lavender |
| UK population | Entirely migratory; annual visitor in variable numbers |
| Sefton Coast | Regular migrant visitor May–October; increasingly common as climate warms |
| Conservation | UK Green List |
Where to See It
Gardens, dune grassland with Red Valerian and other tubular flowers. Named by Green Sefton as a Sefton Coast species.
Identification
Unmistakeable. Hummingbird-like hovering at flowers. Olive-brown forewings, bright orange hindwings. Furry body with white-spotted abdomen. Audible wing hum. Extended proboscis visible while feeding.
Viewing & Photography Tips
Watch any Red Valerian, Buddleia or Verbena in a Formby garden in August. The hovering figure-of-eight feeding pattern and audible wing hum are unmistakeable.
Conservation Status
UK Green List
This species has a favourable conservation status in the UK and remains an important part of Sefton Coast biodiversity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Hummingbird Hawkmoth actually a hummingbird?
No — there are no wild hummingbirds in the UK. The Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum) is a moth that has evolved to mimic hummingbird behaviour — hovering at flowers and extracting nectar with a long proboscis. This convergent evolution is extraordinary; the two animals are not related but have independently evolved identical feeding strategies. The Hawkmoth is much smaller than any hummingbird (wingspan ~5cm).
Related Species
Plan your visit to the Sefton Coast
Marshside RSPB, Formby pinewoods, Ainsdale NNR — practical guides to getting there, what to bring, and the best spots for each season.