Hummingbird hawk-moth

Macroglossum stellatarum
Hummingbird hawk-moth
Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons
Hummingbird hawk-moth
Photo: Jerzy Strzelecki, CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons
Hummingbird hawk-moth
Photo: A. M. Liosi, CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons

About

If a gray 'bird' the size of a large thumb is hovering in a Carpathian garden, fluttering its wings and moving from flower to flower — it is not a hummingbird. Hummingbirds live only in America. This is the Hummingbird hawk-moth, a butterfly from the hawk moth family.

The wingspan of the Hummingbird hawk-moth is 4–4.5 cm. The forewings are gray-brown with dark wavy lines, while the hindwings are orange, visible in flight as a reddish spot. The body is thick and hairy, with a fan of black and white hairs at the end of the abdomen, resembling a bird's tail. The wings move so quickly that they blend together, producing a soft humming sound. The proboscis is long, allowing the moth to drink nectar in flight without landing on the flower.

Unlike most hawk moths, the Hummingbird hawk-moth flies during the day, even in heat, and also at dusk. It is most often seen on phloxes, petunias, bluebells, sage, thistles, and thyme.

This species is a migrant: in spring, the moths arrive from southern Europe, in summer one or two generations develop, and in autumn some fly back. Therefore, in the Carpathians, the Hummingbird hawk-moth can be seen from May to October — in gardens, meadows, sunny slopes, and even on polonynas.

The caterpillars are green or brown, with a horn at the end of their bodies, feeding on bedstraw. The moth is completely safe for humans: it does not sting or bite.

Where in the Carpathians

fewermore378 records in the Carpathians

The map shows where naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records), not every place it lives. The Ukrainian Carpathians are less studied, so a blank area does not mean the species is absent.

Countries
Hungary · Romania · Slovakia · Austria · Ukraine · Czechia · Poland · Serbia
Mountain ranges
Mátra, Bükk, High Tatras, Börzsöny and Cserhát, Piatra Craiului, Low Tatras, Maramureș Mountains, Bucegi Mountains, Iezer-Păpușa Mountains, White Carpathians
Altitude belts
Foothills (below 600 m) · Beech forests (600–1200 m)

When to see it

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Sightings

From naturalists’ observations in the Carpathians (iNaturalist, research grade): the darker the cell, the more often the species is seen that month.

Protection and rules

Not listed in the Red Book of Ukraine.

FAQ

Do hummingbirds live in the Carpathians?

No, hummingbirds are only found in America. In Ukraine, the Hummingbird hawk-moth is mistaken for a hummingbird, as it hovers in front of flowers and drinks nectar with its long proboscis.

Is the Hummingbird hawk-moth dangerous?

No. It is a butterfly, it does not sting or bite; its 'beak' is the proboscis it uses to drink nectar.

Similar species

Old World swallowtailOld World swallowtailPapilio machaonA large yellow and black butterfly with 'tails' on its hindwings. The caterpillar lives on wild carrot, dill, and other umbellifers.
European peacockEuropean peacockAglais ioA bright butterfly with four 'eyes' on its wings. It hibernates as an adult, so it flies as early as spring; the caterpillar lives on nettles.
European mantisEuropean mantisMantis religiosaA large green or brown predatory insect with its front legs folded in a 'praying' position. In the Carpathians, it lives in the warm foothills and valleys.

Where to meet it

Trails

Turychky village, via Runa polonyna to Lumshory villageHardOne-dayTurychky village to Lumshory villagevia Runa polonynaElevation profile274–1 480 m26.5 kmascent 1 206 m≈ 8.5 h walkingPolianska Huta village – Runa polonyna – Polianska Huta villageHardOne-dayPolianska Huta village loopvia Runa polonynaElevation profile423–1 480 m19.3 kmascent 1 288 m≈ 7 h walkingLumshory village – Runa polonyna – Lumshory villageHardOne-dayMarkedLumshory village loopvia Runa polonynaElevation profile484–1 480 m22 kmascent 1 035 m≈ 7 h walkingLumshory village – Runa polonynaModerateOne-dayLumshory village Runa polonynaElevation profile484–1 480 m18.3 kmascent 1 040 m≈ 6.5 h walkingPreluka tract, via Runa polonyna and Lake Velyka Trostia to Lumshory villageModerateOne-dayMarkedPreluka tract to Lumshory villagevia Runa polonyna, Lake Velyka TrostiaElevation profile449–1 480 m17.8 kmascent 545 m≈ 5.5 h walkingKostryno village, via Vyshka village, Liuta village, Mount Liutianska Holytsia and Runa polonyna to Pastilky villageHardMulti-dayKostryno village to Pastilky villagevia Vyshka village, Liuta village +2Elevation profile167–1 480 m79.8 kmascent 3 004 m
Runa polonynaHardOne-dayMarkedRuna polonynaElevation profile465–1 473 m23.6 kmascent 1 075 m≈ 7.5 h walkingDubove village – Mount Apetska – Dubove villageHardOne-dayDubove village loopvia Mount ApetskaElevation profile386–1 512 m21.2 kmascent 1 213 m≈ 7.5 h walkingDubove village, via Mount Apetska, Mount Dohiaska, Mount Stih and Mount Blyznytsia to Kvasy villageHardMulti-dayDubove village to Kvasy villagevia Mount Apetska, Mount Dohiaska +2Elevation profile387–1 883 m69.1 kmascent 4 794 m

Mountain ranges: Maramureș Mountains. In other countries: 🇭🇺 Mátra, 🇭🇺 Bükk, 🇸🇰 High Tatras, 🇭🇺 Börzsöny and Cserhát, 🇷🇴 Piatra Craiului, 🇸🇰 Low Tatras, 🇷🇴 Bucegi Mountains, 🇷🇴 Iezer-Păpușa Mountains, 🇨🇿 White Carpathians, 🇷🇴 Cozia Mountains, 🇷🇴 Buzău Mountains, 🇷🇴 Bihor-Vlădeasa Mountains, 🇷🇴 Trascău and Metaliferi Mountains

Trails and peaks near which naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, iNaturalist), matched by altitude and habitat. Sightings are not guaranteed.

Sources

GBIF · iNaturalist · Wikidata · Distribution data: GBIF.org (CC0 and CC BY records), iNaturalist; names and identifiers: Wikidata (CC0). Text: Karpaty.rocks, checked 11.11.2026.