Identify bird, central Maine, USA (1 Viewer)

[Suzabell]

It's Thanksgiving morning and about 28 degrees. Looking out the window, I just saw what I would have identified as a moth if it was summer and I saw it inside the house. It was small, about half the size of a hummingbird, and fluttering very vigorously. Color yellowish or pale beige. It looked very lively and somewhat like a small bird in the way it flew, but I've never seen a bird that small here - nor have I ever seen a moth outside at this time of year. I wish I could describe it more accurately, but it was small and a fair distance away. I wouldn't have noticed it at all except for the very lively way it was flitting about. Any ideas as to what this could be?

 

[rkj]

A happy Thanksgiving to you. I cannot be much help, but hummingbirds are the smallest birds, so if it was half the size of a hummingbird, it could not have been a bird. I do not know what kind of insect would be active at that temperature.

 

[KC Foggin]

It's probably what they call a Hummingbird Moth. Here's a link to an article: Hummingbird Moths

Hi there Suzabell and a warm welcome to you from those of us on staff here at BirdForum
We're glad you found us and please join in wherever you like

 

[Butty]

There are moths to be seen flying all year in temperate regions. Hummingbird hawkmoths feed on nectar so I doubt would be seen where you are in late November, and their flight would not be described as 'fluttering' - it's far stronger and more direct.
Judging the size of a lone bird is notoriously unreliable, so I wouldn't be sure that it was literally 'half the size of a hummingbird'. It may in fact have been bigger, and thus possibly a bird - on whose identity I would not dare to make suggestions.