Incredible split-second photos capture rare hummingbird hawk-moth in full flight

Published: 19:48 EDT, 13 October 2026 | Updated: 19:49 EDT, 13 October 2026 These incredible split-second photos capture a rare hummingbird hawk-moth in full flight. The pictures, taken by Andrew Fusek-Peters, show the moth's incredibly fast wing beat. It beats its wings so fast, up to 90 beats a second, that they emit an audible hum – hence the name and its similarity to hummingbirds. The moth is a summer visitor to Britain from southern Europe and North Africa but can be seen in most months of the year. Warmer summers now mean that it breeds in the UK and will often spend the winter in Britain. Its fast wing beat means it can manoeuvre easily to delve deep into flower stems, such as red valerian, which is pictured. These incredible split-second photos capture a rare hummingbird hawk-moth in full flight The moth is a summer visitor to Britain from southern Europe and North Africa but can be seen in most months of the year The pictures, taken by Andrew Fusek-Peters, show the bird's incredibly fast wing beat A rare Hummingbird hawkmoth pictured in full flight by wildlife photographer Andrew Fusek-Peters Its fast wing beat means it can manoeuvre easily to delve deep into flower stems, such as red valerian