Meet The Missus

That's right.  I haven't been sure because I never really got a good look at her before but I'm fairly  confident that this is Mrs. Zippy!  Our first good look of the year at a female Costa's hummingbird. 

Today, the bit of white around the eye, the body colors and the length of the bill gave her away.  My only hesitation are the tail feathers.  But I'm going to stick with with my decision.

So Zipette (got a better name?) is around.  Her brood (2 eggs), with which she has been busy incubating and feeding the past 35-40 days,  must have left the nest and now she's free to wander. 

I hope she sticks around.