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The Mediterranean conifer-sclerophyllous-broadleaf forests biome, located in the heart of the Middle East, lies across the Mediterranean Sea coasts of Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Palestine. The forests are home to diverse bird species, as many migratory pathways cross above the area. Eastern Mediterranean countries have a high rate of endemism, or incidence of unique species found nowhere else, with many of them presenting interconnected communities due to paleogeographical and historical patterns. The floristic richness and high endemism rate reflect the ancient origins of these forests. The vegetation cover is a mosaic of three groups of plants; the broadleaf sclerophyllous, also called maquis; the mixed coniferous forests and oak woodlands; and the steppe formations.