BirdForum is the net's largest birding community dedicated to wild birds and birding, and is absolutely FREE!

Register for an account to take part in lively discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Katy Penland" data-source="post: 260433" data-attributes="member: 1268">Hi, Wolfgang, a warm welcome to you from all of us on staff here at BirdForum!A photograph would be extremely helpful in this case.  I don't know where in Australia you're located, but if there are any zoos or collections of exotic birds in your area, I would speculate that that would seem the most likely explanation if in fact what you saw was a hummingbird escapee.   But I'm sure someone more knowledgeable in Australian birds than I am will be along shortly to discuss.Two years ago, I had the smallest "hummer" I'd yet seen visit one of our feeders, and got some silhouette shots of it feeding.  It did indeed turn out to be a "hummingbird moth", a Ten-lined Sphinx Moth if I'm remembering the exact species correctly.  It was extraordinary.  If I can find those slides, I'll post them here for you to see.  It sure had me fooled at first the way it hovered and extended its proboscis into the flowerets to get nectar!Look forward to seeing any shots!EDIT:  Found 'em!  They're dark because they were taken after sundown but I sure did a double-take when I first saw this guy.  <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /></blockquote>