Eric Gofreed
Well-Known Member
It’s Winged Wednesday, where feathers, flutters, and flight steal the show—but not all the stars of the sky are birds. This week, I’m shining a light on a master of twilight: the sphinx moth. Fast, precise, and often mistaken for a hummingbird, it’s a creature that’s easy to miss—until it suddenly isn’t. So pull up a perch, a flower, or a flashlight, and join me in appreciating this winged wonder. And don’t forget to share your winged favorite—whether it buzzes, glides, hovers, or flutters.
My contribution for today’s Winged Wednesday: the Sphinx Moth.
Also known as hawk moths, these fast-moving, strong-flying marvels patrol gardens and wild spaces like miniature fighter jets. Sphinx moths are built like hummingbirds—long-bodied, rapid-winged, and capable of hovering with surgical precision. They unroll a tongue (technically, a proboscis) that seems to go on forever, perfect for sipping nectar deep inside flowers.
What makes them special isn’t just the speed or birdlike form—it’s how completely they break the moth stereotype. These aren’t delicate flutterers drawn to porch lights in a daze. They’re muscular, focused, and deliberate. Some even beat their wings fast enough to hum. Sphinx moths belong to a lineage that predates most birds, and their caterpillars—the infamous hornworms—are equally impressive (or deeply resented by tomato growers). But give them time, and they’ll transform into one of the sky’s most underrated night-fliers.
White-lined Sphinx Moth
One of the most widespread and recognizable sphinx moths, this species shows up in gardens, deserts, and even parking lots—wherever flowers are open for business. Its bold stripes and pink flashes give it away in flight, but it still manages to vanish the moment you try to get a second look.
Clearwing Hummingbird Moth:
Wings like stained glass and flight like a whisper. This moth doesn’t land to feed—it hovers, darts, and moves with such precision it looks choreographed.
Azalea Sphinx Moth:
Usually active at dusk, this moth is drawn to azaleas and viburnums, both as nectar sources and host plants. Its muted tones make it nearly invisible against tree bark—until it flies, fast and focused,
Pandora Sphinx Moth (Eumorpha pandorus)
With its velvety green camouflage and sweeping wing patterns, the Pandora Sphinx looks like a leaf that decided to take flight. It’s more common in the East, especially near grapevines and Virginia creeper—both favorite host plants. Big, beautiful, and gone before you can quite believe it was real.
Rustic Sphinx Moth (Manduca rustica)
Built like a bomber and painted in camouflage, the Rustic Sphinx is all muscle and subtlety. It prefers dusk flights and backroad gardens, especially near jasmine, tobacco, and other night-blooming plants. You might not notice it until the leaves start to move—and then it’s already on to the next blossom.
Brown-crested Flycatcher with a White-lined Sphinx Moth
The chase ended quickly. One moment, the moth was zigzagging over the flowers; the next, it was in the bill of a Brown-crested Flycatcher. Life in flight is a joy ride until it isn'tgentle.
My contribution for today’s Winged Wednesday: the Sphinx Moth.
Also known as hawk moths, these fast-moving, strong-flying marvels patrol gardens and wild spaces like miniature fighter jets. Sphinx moths are built like hummingbirds—long-bodied, rapid-winged, and capable of hovering with surgical precision. They unroll a tongue (technically, a proboscis) that seems to go on forever, perfect for sipping nectar deep inside flowers.
What makes them special isn’t just the speed or birdlike form—it’s how completely they break the moth stereotype. These aren’t delicate flutterers drawn to porch lights in a daze. They’re muscular, focused, and deliberate. Some even beat their wings fast enough to hum. Sphinx moths belong to a lineage that predates most birds, and their caterpillars—the infamous hornworms—are equally impressive (or deeply resented by tomato growers). But give them time, and they’ll transform into one of the sky’s most underrated night-fliers.
White-lined Sphinx Moth
One of the most widespread and recognizable sphinx moths, this species shows up in gardens, deserts, and even parking lots—wherever flowers are open for business. Its bold stripes and pink flashes give it away in flight, but it still manages to vanish the moment you try to get a second look.
Clearwing Hummingbird Moth:
Wings like stained glass and flight like a whisper. This moth doesn’t land to feed—it hovers, darts, and moves with such precision it looks choreographed.
Azalea Sphinx Moth:
Usually active at dusk, this moth is drawn to azaleas and viburnums, both as nectar sources and host plants. Its muted tones make it nearly invisible against tree bark—until it flies, fast and focused,
Pandora Sphinx Moth (Eumorpha pandorus)
With its velvety green camouflage and sweeping wing patterns, the Pandora Sphinx looks like a leaf that decided to take flight. It’s more common in the East, especially near grapevines and Virginia creeper—both favorite host plants. Big, beautiful, and gone before you can quite believe it was real.
Rustic Sphinx Moth (Manduca rustica)
Built like a bomber and painted in camouflage, the Rustic Sphinx is all muscle and subtlety. It prefers dusk flights and backroad gardens, especially near jasmine, tobacco, and other night-blooming plants. You might not notice it until the leaves start to move—and then it’s already on to the next blossom.
Brown-crested Flycatcher with a White-lined Sphinx Moth
The chase ended quickly. One moment, the moth was zigzagging over the flowers; the next, it was in the bill of a Brown-crested Flycatcher. Life in flight is a joy ride until it isn'tgentle.
