It’s near the height of summer, when the temperature is close to peak.

Various flowers are budding. There are plenty of hummingbirds around gardens or areas in the wild where flowering plants are present. Jewelweed, cardinal flower and a myriad other plant species attract hummingbirds in various habitats.

You may have seen a lot of hummingbirds this summer, but maybe you saw an unusually small hummingbird. From afar, it would appear about half the size of a hummingbird. If you managed to get a closer look, however, you would see that it is not a hummingbird at all—this small wonder is a moth with transparent wings.

This is the clearwing hummingbird moth.

The clearwing hummingbird moth (Hemaris thysbe) is a member of the sphinx moth family. Most species within this family fly mainly at night. The clearwing hummingbird moth is an exception. It can be seen during spring and summer foraging nectar from flowers. Native plants seem to be their favorite; they are attracted to plants similar to those that draw ruby-throated hummingbirds and other pollinators.

Look for something that first appears to be a hummingbird hovering near a flower. A closer look will reveal translucent wings fringed with dark red or brown, a light brown thorax and upper abdomen, and a darker band at mid-abdomen.

Its flight as it hovers over flowers is very similar to that of a hummingbird, and you may hear a hum from the high-frequency wingbeats. The clearwing hummingbird moth is not too common, but if you happen upon one, stay still, take a photo if you can, and enjoy.