A Bird-Like Moth Is Making UK Gardeners ‘Gasp’ This Summer

You might have noticed that the UK is seeing fewer wasps than usual this summer. And while that might sound like good news, experts think that this year’s unpredictable weather (remember the flooding that followed one of our many heatwaves?), which has been attributed to climate change, could be to blame.

Plus, it looks like our black-and-yellow-striped friends have been replaced by a new visitor.

This year, the National Trust says, we’re in a “hummingbird hawk-moth summer”.

And on Reddit, a delighted gardener was one of many who said they’d seen their first one in 2026: “I gasped!” they commented.

It’s a moth (who’d have guessed?) with a wingspan of 5cm to 5.8cm. And unlike many other species of moth, it’s a “day-flying” species, meaning you might catch it flitting around in your garden in the afternoon.

The hummingbird hawk-moth has grey forewings and orange hindwings. It’s also got a grey body and a black and white “tail,” The Wildlife Trusts explained.

Some viewers describe it as a “grey lump with orange wings”; like hummingbirds, it flaps so rapidly that its wings create a buzz.

Hummingbird hawk moths also have a large proboscis, which helps them to reach into flowers like honeysuckle, valerian and buddleia.

And while it’s not an especially massive species (a poplar hawk moth, the hulking presence of which once cleared my entire uni dorm, is about twice its size), ITVX said it’s often mistaken for a small bird thanks to its humming hover.

Indeed, one Redditor wrote: “Didn’t know what it was but thought it looked like a tiny hummingbird”.

They do usually make an appearance here from April to as late as December, when they fly up from Southern Europe and North Africa.

But one of the differences here is in the numbers.

In 2021, per the National Trust, we only recorded eight sightings of the moth.

However, we’ve seen far more this year. Speaking to ITV, the Wildlife Trust’s Strategic lead on Agriculture, Vicki Hird, said this year’s high figures are “really unusual” (however, other experts point out it’s too soon to compare numbers year-on-year for 2026).

Then, there’s location to consider. When the UK does get hummingbird hawk moths, they’re usually along the southern coast, which is closer to Europe.

This year, though, they’ve been spotted as high up and far inland as Stowe Gardens, near Buckingham. They could even be seen in Northern Ireland and Scotland – under the Reddit post we mentioned earlier, people said they saw them in the north-east and north-west of England and central Scotland.

Experts think that hot weather has driven them upwards into the UK, while extreme temperatures in mainland Europe could have depleted their food supply in their usual homes.

Winds might have worked in their favour as well. And they might be expected to stay longer than usual: “Warmer winters might… be allowing them to overwinter in greenhouses and sheltered locations,” the National Trust writes.

They love nectar-rich, tubular flowers like honeysuckle, buddleia, and valerian. And if you’re hoping for a longer stay, climbing ivy and shrubs (as well as greenhouses) can give them a safe space to overwinter.

Seen a hummingbird hawk moth? Simply sit back and enjoy the view – and, if you like, report your sighting to bodies like Butterfly Conservation, which has a National Moth Recording Scheme.