Which moth is commonly called the hummingbird hawk-moth?

The moth commonly called the hummingbird hawk-moth is Macroglossum stellatarum.

This day-flying hawkmoth hovers in front of flowers and uses a long proboscis to drink nectar, creating a resemblance to a hummingbird. It is native across much of Europe, Asia, and North Africa and is a familiar visitor to gardens, especially where tubular flowers provide accessible nectar.

The species is strongly associated with honeysuckle, red valerian, buddleia, and other nectar-rich plants. Its rapid wingbeats and hovering behavior can make it look like a small bird, but its six legs, antennae, and scaled wings identify it as a moth.

Despite the common name, it is not a hummingbird moth in the American genus Hemaris. Macroglossum stellatarum belongs to the hawkmoth family Sphingidae, while Hemaris species are a separate group within that same family.