I have fed hummingbirds for decades and know that we get "scouts" several weeks if not months before the "herd" of them arrive in May/June. What exactly do these early hummers do?

Lanny Chambers (The Hummingbird Expert) says there isn't any such thing as hummingbird "scouts". Those are just hummingbirds that simply migrate earlier than others. That's why it's good to have our feeders out early. Some will most likely show up early.

OK, got it. I have just always heard the term "scouts" used for these early ones. I wonder why a few migrate so early and then there seems to be weeks/a couple of months before the rest arrive. That really makes no sense to me, but hey, lots of things make no sense to me! I at least can now blame it on old age.

Same here. I've always heard that term -- so no need to be embarrassed. I think some migrate further south than the others and so their trip north takes them longer to get back here and they arrive later. I don't know why that is either. The males tend to migrate first (or so I've been told) and so start back north sooner and tend to arrive earlier. I have noticed that I see male ruby-throats here before I see the females. Perhaps that's just a coincidence.

The only one I have seen, and it has now stayed for two days (assuming it is the same one ?) is a female. Migrating further or less south makes good sense. I never considered the distance traveled. Thanks.

You're welcome. I have an article on ATP about hummers. I'm not an expert but I do like to study about them.

http://garden.org/ideas/view/S...

Here in Fountain I have found that the hummers come and then disappear for awhile. It has been my understanding that when they are gone they are nesting and hatching young. Right or wrong I don't know, but that's what someone told me