Field Notes Update

Snowberry Clearwing Moth /  by Todd Henson

Snowberry clearwing moth on thistle

In a recent post about the hummingbird clearwing (Hemaris thysbe) I’d mentioned that it wasn’t the only clearwing moth in the area, so today we take a look at another, the snowberry clearwing (Hemaris diffinis). Both of these species are known as hummingbird moths for their resemblance to hummingbirds. If you don’t look closely, or aren’t aware of their existence, it can be easy to confuse one for the other.

Looking at the back of a snowberry clearwing feeding on thistle nectar

The primary differences between the snowberry and the hummingbird clearwing, as mentioned in the previous post, are the black legs on the snowberry (versus pale colored on the hummingbird) and the dark band around the eyes and down the side of the snowberry. Both can have an olive-greenish toned thorax, but as you can see, one of these snowberry has less green in it, instead featuring a more tan or golden thorax. There is some variation in each species appearance.

The benefits of a long tongue become obvious when watching this snowberry clearwing feeding

Some of these photos are not as in focus as I’d like. These little hummingbird moths are quite challenging to photograph as they constantly move about from flower to flower, feeding on nectar. But I’m hopeful the photos help show just how much of the wing can be clear, hence the clearwing in their name.

In this photo the snowberry clearwing has just finished feeding and is moving away from the flower. Notice how its tongue begins to curl inwards.

The other feature I’d like you to notice is their long tongue, used to reach into deeper flowers much as hummingbirds do. As the snowberry clearwing moved away from a flower it had just been feeding from it curled up its tongue. I don’t know if this is typical behavior, though I suspect it is.

The snowberry clearwing has moved further from the flower after feeding and we can now see its tongue more tightly curled.

If you happen to live in the eastern half of the United States then keep your eyes open for snowberry clearwing hummingbird moths. You just might see one. I don’t see them all that often, but each time is a joy. I hope you’ve gotten some enjoyment viewing these wonderful little flying marvels.

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Hummingbird Clearwing Moth /  by Todd Henson

A hummingbird clearwing moth (Hemaris thysbe) hovering by a flower

I still remember the first time I saw a hummingbird moth and learned it was an insect and not a bird. Similar to how a hummingbird has a small body for a bird, a hummingbird moth has a large body for a moth. And so the two end up very similar in size, flying in somewhat similar ways, both making similar sounds, and feeding around similar plants. It’s no wonder then, is it, that we mistake them? And yet, they are so very different.

The hummingbird moth we’re looking at today is called a hummingbird clearwing (Hemaris thysbe). It’s not the only clearwing in this area and looks very similar to the Snowberry clearwing (Hemaris diffinis). But the hummingbird clearwing has more red on its wings and lower body, and its legs are pale colored. The Snowberry clearwing has black legs, and also a dark band around its eyes and across its sides. They both can have a greenish toned thorax and a darker abdomen which almost appear to be covered in fur, contributing to their resemblance to hummingbirds.

A hummingbird clearwing moth (Hemaris thysbe) gathering nectar from flowers

These moths are wonderful flyers and a joy to watch as they flit from flower to flower feeding on the nectar. They have an extraordinarily long tongue that lets them feed from flowers some insects are unable to. But the flowers in these photos, which I believe are beebalm, don’t present much challenge to hummingbird moths or other insects.

Trying to photograph hummingbird moths can be a real challenge as they’re fast movers, and their wings are almost never still. I do wonder what they’d look like if they ever landed to rest, but I’ve only ever seen them in flight. I was fortunate to capture a couple nice views, showing details on their back, sides and wings. Look closely and you can see the clear portions of their wings that explain the clearwing part of their name. You can also see the long tongue extended into the flower.

Have you ever encountered hummingbird moths? Are they common in your area?

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Cardinals Nesting in the Blueberries /  by Todd Henson

Male northern cardinal and blueberries

My folks have several blueberry bushes that some years provide great tasting blueberries and other years are almost completely eaten by wildlife before they’re fully ripe. The best blueberry years are those when there’s netting over the bushes, but sometimes there’s just not enough time to deal with new netting. This year we were trying to put up some make-shift netting, hoping to get some berries, when my father discovered a nest in one of the bushes, which turned out to be the nest of a pair of northern cardinals. And it contained at least three small blue eggs with brown spots, so it was an active nest. Pretty exciting, but also a little disappointing, as we wouldn’t be able to put up netting on that particular bush.

Northern cardinal eggs in a nest

While working around the bushes I took the opportunity to briefly photograph the nest and the eggs, as I’d never seen an active cardinal nest before. But I tried, as much as possible, to stay away from the nest, both so I didn’t disturb it and so I didn’t attract attention to it.

Female northern cardinal reaching for blueberries

Later, after we were finished with the netting, I setup at a distance and photographed some of the activity in the blueberry bushes. Many of the local birds are somewhat used to the presence of people, which makes photographing them much easier. And most years my folks have bird feeders, though this year they don’t as local authorities have recommended taking down all bird feeders because of a bird illness sweeping through the region that they think might be spread faster when birds congregate at feeders. Thankfully, I didn’t see evidence of this illness with these birds.

The female northern cardinal flying between branches

Mmmm, mmmm good! The female northern cardinal feasting on a blueberry

But being used to people, and having such a great food source as a blueberry bush with ripening berries, it was fairly easy to get some interesting photographs of the pair of cardinals. I setup at a bit of a distance from the bushes, right between some raised garden beds where my folks grow vegetables. I watched as the male cardinal sometimes turned to look at me as he heard the camera’s shutter click. And I watched as the female pulled down and ate several blueberries.

Though somewhat exposed up top, from the side the female northern cardinal is difficult to see in her nest

If you’re curious how to tell the male and female apart, look closely at the coloration. The male is a brighter red, whereas the female has some reddish tones to her feathers but is otherwise a duller color, more tan or brown. The dark feathers around the beak of the male are black, but on the female they are closer to gray.

Are you still there? One final look at the male northern cardinal peeking around some branches at me

We were hopeful this might turn into a productive nest but also concerned the cardinals had chosen a poor location. The nest was somewhat exposed up top. And the blueberry bushes, though containing plenty of food for the cardinals, also attracted many other birds and critters. I don’t know that building a nest right in the middle of a local food source for other animals was a good idea. Unfortunately, this did prove true, as several days later my father found the nest empty. I’m hopeful this was early enough in the season that the pair of cardinals found a better location to try again and that perhaps this story, even with the initial losses, had a happy ending.

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