It could be mistaken for a tiny bird as this unusual moth is best known for its ability to hover in front of flowers while feeding on nectar. Its wings beat so rapidly that they become a blur, creating a distinctive humming sound. Equipped with a long, straw-like tongue called a proboscis, it can sip nectar from flowers without landing, darting from bloom to bloom with extraordinary speed and precision.

The moth's appearance is also striking. It has grey-brown forewings, vivid orange hindwings and a distinctive black-and-white fan-shaped tail. When its wings are beating at full speed, the orange colour flashes so quickly that the insect seems to glow as it moves between flowers.

August is one of the best times to spot hummingbird hawk-moths. Adults are busy feeding to fuel their energetic lifestyle and, in favourable years, some of the migrants that arrived earlier in the summer may have successfully bred in Britain. Females lay eggs on bedstraw plants, and the striking green caterpillars spend their time feeding and growing before pupating.

Unlike many moths, hummingbird hawk-moths rely heavily on their excellent eyesight. They are active in bright sunshine and may even remember which flowers they have recently visited, helping them feed efficiently. Their hovering flight is so precise that they can remain almost motionless in the air while reaching deep into blooms. Although they resemble hummingbirds in both appearance and behaviour, the similarity is a remarkable example of evolution arriving at the same solution in two completely unrelated animals.

The species' annual migration is one of nature's great journeys. Every year, hummingbird hawk-moths cross huge distances to reach Britain, flying over mountains, open countryside and even stretches of sea. Numbers fluctuate depending on weather conditions across Europe, but southern coastal counties such as Hampshire are among the best places to see them.