Not A Hummingbird, But What?

[2long]

I keep seeing a very small bird here in Bangkok. It is attracted to flowers and looks and flies similar to a hummingbird. I appreciate that it is not, but would like to know what it is. It's not an escaped pet or anything, as there are more than one.

Ideas please...

Thanks

[PoorSucker]

Probably a big moth, Macroglossum that is often mistaken for a hummingbird.

Edited October 17, 2011 by PoorSucker

[KhaoNiaw]

Probably an olive-backed sunbird, regular visitors to our garden.

[sbk]

Yes, I was going to vote sunbird too,

[tutsiwarrior]

there's also a large flying insect with gossamer type wings that I mistook for a hummingbird, viewed at a distance...it was discussed in another thread some while ago...

[Skeptic7]

A bit late to the party...but although if certain it's a bird, then those suggesting Sunbird would be correct. However, there are insects that are more like hummingbirds than Sunbirds. Poorsucker was spot on. It could be a moth. Common name Hummingbird Hawk-moth to be precise. Here's some pix I took just last week in Kanchanaburi Province. Top 3 are this species. The last 3 are the Coffee Bee Hawk-moth aka Coffee Clearwing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 4, 2019 by Skeptic7

[HyperLah]

 

[2long]

Late replies ????

Thank you all. Indeed a sunbird, and they're getting braver.

And this morning I saw a really brightly-coloured bird that could have been a sunbird. It was striking blue with a red stripe. And making lots of noise, bless it!

[Skeptic7]

11 minutes ago, 2long said:

Late replies ????

Thank you all. Indeed a sunbird, and they're getting braver.

And this morning I saw a really brightly-coloured bird that could have been a sunbird. It was striking blue with a red stripe. And making lots of noise, bless it!

Red stripe on back or front? Sounds like a male Fire-breasted Flowerpecker (formerly Buff-bellied Flowerpecker). Your current location would help (are you still in BKK?)...but your description fits with this species and certainly so if the red stripe was on the front (breast) of the bird. HOWEVER...this species would be extremely rare (technically unheard of) in the Bangkok area. It is found in other parts of The Kingdom.

 

If still in BKK,  most likely Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker. Here's a couple pix I captured in my area of BKK...

 

 

[Tippaporn]

On 6/4/2019 at 6:53 PM, Skeptic7 said:

A bit late to the party...but although if certain it's a bird, then those suggesting Sunbird would be correct. However, there are insects that are more like hummingbirds than Sunbirds. Poorsucker was spot on. It could be a moth. Common name Hummingbird Hawk-moth to be precise. Here's some pix I took just last week in Kanchanaburi Province. Top 3 are this species. The last 3 are the Coffee Bee Hawk-moth aka Coffee Clearwing.

 

 

 

 

 

I was sitting out this morning watching the bees buzzing around our flowers when I saw something that was bigger than a bee and most definitely not a bee.  I tried to follow it with my eyes but it was darting around much too fast.  At one point, though, it flew motionless for a scant second and I swore I saw a beak, or what appeared as a beak.  Checked it out on the Internet and came up with this vid which is definitely what I had seen.  Never had seen one before.

 

BTW, I sighted this in Bang Phli, Samut Prakan.

 

 

Edited July 28, 2019 by Tippaporn

[Tippaporn]

Good article which describes this little creature.  It's a hummingbird moth of which there are a variety.

 

https://www.farmersalmanac.com/hummingbird-moth-32556

[Skeptic7]

10 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

On 6/4/2019 at 6:53 PM, Skeptic7 said:

 

I was sitting out this morning watching the bees buzzing around our flowers when I saw something that was bigger than a bee and most definitely not a bee.  I tried to follow it with my eyes but it was darting around much too fast.  At one point, though, it flew motionless for a scant second and I swore I saw a beak, or what appeared as a beak.  Checked it out on the Internet and came up with this vid which is definitely what I had seen.  Never had seen one before.

 

BTW, I sighted this in Bang Phli, Samut Prakan.

Yup...you saw a Hummingbird Hawkmoth. The first 3 pix I posted above, which I photographed earlier this year. Hummingbirds are only found throughout the Americas and Caribbean. 

 

Moths and butterflies don't have beaks, but rather a proboscis...used for extracting nectar. In mammals it's a nose, but in insects it's a straw-like tongue! It can be clearly seen in all my pics above. It's kept coiled when not in use...which can also be seen in my pix. 

[Tippaporn]

13 hours ago, Skeptic7 said:

Yup...you saw a Hummingbird Hawkmoth. The first 3 pix I posted above, which I photographed earlier this year. Hummingbirds are only found throughout the Americas and Caribbean. 

 

Moths and butterflies don't have beaks, but rather a proboscis...used for extracting nectar. In mammals it's a nose, but in insects it's a straw-like tongue! It can be clearly seen in all my pics above. It's kept coiled when not in use...which can also be seen in my pix. 

Wow!  You took those pics, Skeptic?  Nice work.  Those Hawkmoths dart around so fast that I can't imagine myself snapping a shot showing them with such clarity.  Now that I know what i'm looking at I saw him again this morning.  He seems to be a loner.  Lots of bees but only a single Hawkmoth.

[Skeptic7]

2 hours ago, Tippaporn said:

Wow!  You took those pics, Skeptic?  Nice work.  Those Hawkmoths dart around so fast that I can't imagine myself snapping a shot showing them with such clarity.  Now that I know what i'm looking at I saw him again this morning.  He seems to be a loner.  Lots of bees but only a single Hawkmoth.

555 Thx...gotta have a good camera with super zoom lens and continuous shooting burst mode...not to mention A LOT OF PATIENCE. My cam will fire up to 10 fps, which makes such pix much easier. 

 

Below is a female (no ruby gorget) Ruby-throated hummingbird I snapped in the States years ago with film...well before digital cameras.