Which moth is famous for hovering in front of flowers like a hummingbird?

The hummingbird hawk-moth is famous for hovering in front of flowers like a hummingbird.

Macroglossum stellatarum is a day-flying hawkmoth found across much of Europe, Africa, and Asia. Its rapid wingbeats allow it to hover while extending a long proboscis into flowers. The behavior and the moth’s humming sound can make it easy to mistake for a small bird.

The resemblance is an example of mimicry in movement and feeding behavior, not a close relationship. Hummingbirds are birds, whereas the hummingbird hawk-moth is an insect. The moth has six legs, scaly wings, and the characteristic coiled feeding tube of a lepidopteran.

Adults visit many tubular flowers and can remain airborne while feeding. The species is also a notable migrant in parts of Europe, where individuals may move northward in spring and return or die before winter. Its common name reflects its appearance and behavior rather than its taxonomy.