Sphingidae

General Toshevo, Bulgaria - June 2007

The Hummingbird Hawkmoth is mostly a day-flying species, although it does also sometimes fly at night.  It gets its common name from its habit of hovering in front of flowers whilst drinking the nectar with its long proboscis, similar to a small hummingbird.  It is an immigrant to Britain and in some years can arrive in large numbers, mostly in the south but they can appear anywhere in the country.