Read why birds like coffee, what has changed, which birds are affected, and how the habitat is endangered. In the midst of altered and shrinking habitat in both North and Latin America, migratory birds have found a sanctuary in the forestlike environment of traditional coffee plantations. In eastern Chiapas, Mexico, Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center biologists found that traditionallymanaged coffee and cacao chocolate plantations support over 150 species of birds; a greater number than is found in other agricultural habitats, and exceeded only in undisturbed tropical forest. Even in very disturbed areas, coffee plantations support good populations of migrants and other species that prefer or are restricted to forest habitats, such as redstarts, blackthroated green warblers, yellowthroated and solitary vireos, and residents including tinamous, parrots, trogons, becards, toucans, and woodcreepers.

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