DOZENS OF birdwatching enthusiasts across the country have called Birdwatch Ireland in recent weeks claiming to have had a rare sighting of a hummingbird.
But the excited twitchers have been told what they thought was a hummingbird is not even a bird, but is actually a large moth, known as a hawk moth.
According to Birdwatch Ireland, dozens of people had contacted the organisation claiming to have spotted the bird, which shares a number of similar characteristics with the moth.
The moth’s long tongue mimics the beak of the bird searching out nectar from flowers and it also rapidly flaps its wings, giving the impression of hovering in mid-air.
Niall Hatch of Birdwatch Ireland said it’s fascinating that two completely different animals share many similar characteristics such as colour, size, eating habits and how they both appear to hover in mid-flight.
Mr Hatch said that a number of sightings of the “fake” hummingbird have come mainly from the Aran Islands and around the general coastal regions because the creature immediately looks for food, after travelling from mainland Europe. “I can only think the Aran Islands may have species of plants which the hawk moth is drawn to.”
Hummingbirds are only found in America, Canada and the Caribbean. “They couldn’t migrate here because it would be physically impossible for them. Most need to feed every 15 minutes and the journey would be too long.”
Meanwhile, an “exceptionally rare” albino jackdaw is causing a stir around local housing estates in Buncrana, Co Donegal.
The bird, named Jackson, was born about six weeks ago and is completely white with pink coloured legs, beak and eyes.
Commenting on the jackdaw’s albinism, Mr Hatch said it is caused by a genetic mutation.
“The survival rate of albino birds tends to be lower because they are so visible to predators and are also susceptible to blindness because their pink eyes don’t have ultraviolet protection.”
He said although Birdwatch Ireland had received a similar report earlier this year from Co Kerry, the occurrence was “exceptionally rare”.
