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Orange and Black Northern Orioles are another neotropical migratory songbird

Northern Oriole

Where those backyard beauties come from

Depending on your location, half or more of the bird species in your backyard could be "neotropical migrants." This means they migrate to the tropics of Central and South America yearly, spend the winter in the rainforest, then come back to your backyard in the spring. Because we live in a small world, your choices can affect their lives and habitats far beyond your backyard.

How your choices affect them

A simple choice can make a big difference for the songbirds in your life:

Sitting by a window one morning, you notice a flash of orange in the trees. A beautiful orange and black oriole alights on a high branch as you take your first sip of coffee. Are the two actions related? Yes, say some scientists, but whether the relationship is beneficial depends on the brand in your cup.

The Blue Grosbeak is a neotropical migrant songbird

Beautiful Blue Grosbeak

So begins "The Songbird Connection," an article by Lisa Capone in Animals Magazine (September 1999). Because most songbirds are neotropical migrants and winter in the coffee growing regions of the world, the methods of growing coffee are extremely important to the health of their populations. Shade-grown coffee helps songbirds. Remember the importance of habitat? When the tropical forest is cut down for full-sun coffee plantations, songbird habitat is lost. The good news is that traditional methods of growing coffee under the canopy not only preserve habitat and songbird populations, but the coffee tastes better!

What you can do to help

Every Morning

How about a nice warm cup of... ecological sustainability? Find out more about bird-friendly practices and neotropical migratory songbirds at songbird.org, and look for coffee that is certified "shade-grown" (and preferably organic and fair-trade certified as well), so that your morning brew isn't so bitter for your backyard birds.

Beyond Coffee

There are many ways you can help your new backyard friends, both at home and beyond. Most importantly, you can learn more and get involved in local and global conservation efforts. See the references below and on our Resources Page to find out more.

Morning Cup of Coffee

Is Your Morning Cup of Coffee "For The Birds"?

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