I.D. night flying Moth?

[Kathleen Moon]

Croaton wrote:
> 
> After dusk tonight I saw in my garden a moth that is as large as a woman's
> thumb with a wing span to match or somewhat larger.  It was hard to tell if
> there were two sets of wings.  I suspect there were.  It was feeding on nectar
> of the petunia.  It had a tongue as long as its body and antennae that looked
> feathered.  It appeared to have black and greenish yellow bands on its body.
> In profile it looked like a hummingbird and it fed in the same manner, but this
> was no bird!  I am familiar with the Hummingbird Moth and see them in my garden
> during the day.  This was just before it was too dark to see.  I live in
> Illinois.  Can anyone identify this?

Probably a sphinx moth (=hawkmoth or hummingbird moth).  There are
several in that part of the country.