They’re buff-bellied, broad-billed, white-eared and black-chinned. And they’re in Vicksburg.

They’re a rare species of winter hummingbirds, and they’ve been captured, identified and banded, or tagged, by researchers to determine why they’re here.

&#8220The ones that are here now are very rare. They come from the west – probably Mexico – to spend their winters in the Southeast. We’re trying to figure out why,” said Bob Sargent, founder of the Hummer Bird Study Group.

Sargent said the particular species of winter hummingbird identified at Linden Plantation in Vicksburg this year was the Rufous, but Black-chinned and Calliope species have been spotted here before.

Joy Brabston, owner of Linden Plantation, said she first spotted the Rufous a month ago.

&#8220They’re not like the ruby-throated ones that are very friendly. They’re very skiddish and fly away in a heartbeat,” Brabston said.

Sargent, who has been researching hummingbirds for 20 years, said six to eight birds are usually banded every winter in the northern part of Mississippi.

&#8220But a lot depends on how many are reported to us. We depend on the public to notify us if they see one during the winter,” he said.

Sargent said the most common type of hummingbird is the ruby-throated, which is first seen in mid-March and stays through the summer.

&#8220They’re most often seen during early spring, July and September when they’re migrating north or south,” he said.

As part of his research, Sargent will band the birds with a particular number and document where they were seen. Then if the same bird is spotted the next year, that’s the first step in tracking the migration path, he said.

Sargent lives in Birmingham, Ala., and travels all over the Southeast studying hummingbirds.

&#8220I encourage everyone to leave hummingbird feeders out during the winter and to contact me if they spot one from Nov. 15 to March 15,” he said.