Saturday Snapshot is hosted over at At Home with Books and is just people sharing a photo they have taken and telling a little about it. This week I have a picture to share and a question for all of you. Picture first though, here it is.
So this little guy has been hanging around my front yard a lot lately. It is hard to get a picture of him because his wings are beating so fast, but at least in this one you can see the wings. My hubbie says it is a hummingbird, but I am not so sure. His tail just does not look like a hummingbird to me. So the question I have is what do you think it is? Maybe it is just a type of hummingbird I have not seen before. Let me know in the comments. And be sure to share your Saturday Snapshot if you have one too!
Oh, I wish we had humming birds here in England! My Snapshot is of a stone circle http://goo.gl/8P0Zp
Do you guys not have them over there? I don’t think I knew that. I wonder why that is. Anyways, thanks for stopping by!
Enjoyed looking at the photograph!
Here is my Saturday Snapshot post!
Thank you! I enjoyed taking it.
Nice catch… those are difficult to capture, they move so fast.
As to what this is… it looks like a Hummingbird Moth. They are much smaller than a hummingbird at only 1 to 2 inches long. The birds are 3 or 4 inches. You’re right about the tail looking wrong, the birds have a longer tail. A couple other ways to tell… hummingbirds have two feet, the moth has multiple legs. Also the moth has antenna, the hummingbird does not. And finally, the hummingbird has a long beak, the moths do not.
Thank you for that information! I knew that the tail was not right, but I had no idea there was such a thing as a Hummingbird Moth!
That info about the hummingbird moth is astonishing! I have never heard of such a thing, and would never have guessed it was an insect!
It really was interesting wasn’t it? I had never heard of that before!
I have been waiting everyday to see my little hummers. They always show up here on Long Island mid-August. I love watching them and have actually gotten a few photos when they land to rest high up in my cherry tree. They are wonderful to observe. Those flowers definitely appeal to hummers. I’ve never seen the moth. Hope he returns so you can shoot him again! Thanks for sharing. Here’s my photo:http://barbarathehealthynut.blogspot.com/2012/08/raindrops-and-roses.html
I love seeing them out there too, they are so cool to watch flit around. He keeps coming back to those flowers so I am sure you are right about them appealing to them.
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I guess you need a camera with a good zoom lens. It’s a hummingbird moth?
Yeah, I do have a pretty good zoom, but I would like to try and get closer at some point. Yeah it is a hummingbird moth.
No hummingbirds in Australia either, but such fascinating creatures – well done for capturing one in motion.
Wow, I had no idea they were not in other parts of the world. That is so interesting. And thank you, it took a lot of tries, but I am happy with this shot.
Great photo whether it’s a bird or a moth. I like the purple flowers too.
Thank you! I like the flowers as well.
Hi there! Sharing a post from Michaela at The Gardener’s Eden that will hopefully shed a little light?
http://www.thegardenerseden.com/?p=26244
P.S. LOVE your verbena (great colour in this shot!: )
Thank you! That post was very helpful.