Yesterday, I saw a tiny creature that looked and acted like a hummingbird. I remember as a child seeing hummingbirds float from flower to flower with their long, thin beaks extending into the center of each bloom. I live in Germany, and have not seen a hummingbird for a long time. But yesterday I was thrilled to see what I thought was a hummingbird. Today, after a bit of research, I found a video that matches the description of what I saw. Turns out I witnessed a hummingbird hawk moth, and although rare, it was a disappointment. Attached is a picture with a circle around the moth. Zoom in to see it a little better. Sorry it is not the clearest picture.
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Hummingbirds in Europe (or not) (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter tng03_22
- Start date
Bird_Bill
Well-known member
The resemblance in flight to a hummingbird is uncanny. The 17 years I've been in this location, have seen 3 of the Sphingidae family, or hawk moths, clearwings, hummingbird moths, etc. in the yard. Relative rarity, and mostly nocturnal/crepuscular activity here, makes it a genuine treat to see one.
ptickner
Well-known member
There is a local store with photos and paintings from local artists with a very nice photo labeled "Hummingbird on Lupine". The only problem is that it is clearly a moth! I pointed this out once to the shop owner, who it turns out was also the photographer, and I was quite rudely told "I think I know what a hummingbird is". I just smiled walked out.
Bird_Bill
Well-known member
Per my first post, seen 3 in yard. Last, being one that flew into the house this past May. For few seconds, early in the morning, for all practical purposes there was a hummingbird flying around in here, until I fully focused on it. Couldn't get a pic of it in flight, indoors or out. Did coax it to a box, managed a few frames, and released into predawn. Even at rest, tail end, & general profile are striking, compared to a hummer.
Attachments
Peter C.
...just zis guy, you know?
3
It's always so funny to come across a true, dyed-in-the-wool, supremely confident ignoramus. In my experience, I've found that their self-confidence varies in direct proportion to their ignorance. In University, we had a name for these people: know-nothing experts.
NUMENIOS
Don't understand me too quickly, please!
The word and the thing
But you can look at it from another point too: The word is not the thing - and the thing is not the word. Although we constantly mix them up, they have nothing to do with each other, and if someone chooses to call a moth "a hummingbird" he's free to do so; the -bird at the end doesn't mean anything either, just think of the ladybird.
There is only one limitation to that approach: You can use any name you like - but don't expect anyone to understand you!
Ivan
3
It's always so funny to come across a true, dyed-in-the-wool, supremely confident ignoramus. In my experience, I've found that their self-confidence varies in direct proportion to their ignorance. In University, we had a name for these people: know-nothing experts.
But you can look at it from another point too: The word is not the thing - and the thing is not the word. Although we constantly mix them up, they have nothing to do with each other, and if someone chooses to call a moth "a hummingbird" he's free to do so; the -bird at the end doesn't mean anything either, just think of the ladybird.
There is only one limitation to that approach: You can use any name you like - but don't expect anyone to understand you!
Ivan
ptickner
Well-known member
I'm a little confused by this. A hummingbird is different from a moth, and in this case the "bird" at the end does mean something. It is a bird. The point being made in this thread is that some moths are mistaken for hummingbirds, but they are still moths. If someone chooses erroneously to declare a moth to be a hummingbird I don't really see that as a freedom of speech issue. Sure, I have the right to say that 2+2=5, but that doesn't mean it is correct.
Hummingbird hawkmoth
Of the hummingbird hawkmoth at rest I have never seen a picture of this
Kind before quite unusual moths beautiful camouflage too.
Super picture
Of the hummingbird hawkmoth at rest I have never seen a picture of this
Kind before quite unusual moths beautiful camouflage too.
NUMENIOS
Don't understand me too quickly, please!
Clarification
Hello, my post was mainly humorous - I thought the last sentence would make that clear.
However, it is still true that words are basically arbitrary; they get their meaning only by agreement, and especially when it comes to abstract terms you'll find that the meanings various people link to a certain term can and do differ enormously (just think of words like "god", "freedom", "love", "happiness" - they are obviously not the same for everyone). Mathematics are different, they don't depend on agreement. On the other hand, the language of mathematics DOES depend on agreement: in the decimal system 8+8=16, but in the hexadecimal system 8+8=... 10! (here the first digit "1" assumes the value of 16 - 16, now in the decimal system again)
But to get back on the track: YOU know that the -bird in "hummingbird" refers to a biological taxon and the -bird in "ladybird" does not. But if someone does not know it, he might think that the hummingBIRD is an insect just as the ladyBIRD is. This is a very simple example of the rather complex matter I was hinting at; only I don't think this is the place to go into it any further.
Ivan
Hello, my post was mainly humorous - I thought the last sentence would make that clear.
However, it is still true that words are basically arbitrary; they get their meaning only by agreement, and especially when it comes to abstract terms you'll find that the meanings various people link to a certain term can and do differ enormously (just think of words like "god", "freedom", "love", "happiness" - they are obviously not the same for everyone). Mathematics are different, they don't depend on agreement. On the other hand, the language of mathematics DOES depend on agreement: in the decimal system 8+8=16, but in the hexadecimal system 8+8=... 10! (here the first digit "1" assumes the value of 16 - 16, now in the decimal system again)
But to get back on the track: YOU know that the -bird in "hummingbird" refers to a biological taxon and the -bird in "ladybird" does not. But if someone does not know it, he might think that the hummingBIRD is an insect just as the ladyBIRD is. This is a very simple example of the rather complex matter I was hinting at; only I don't think this is the place to go into it any further.
Ivan
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Thank you for all of the replies! I was happy to find that hummingbird hawk moths are a rare sight, so I was able to experience something beautiful and uncommon. And now I know there are different types of hawk moths, too. When I took this picture, a man approached and told me it was not a hummingbird, but he could not remember the name of this "insect." I, too, replied that I was sure it was a hummingbird 3
And now I know.
And now I know.
