Data Zone
Country/territory: Portugal
IBA criteria met: A4ii, A4iii, B1ii, B2, B3, C2, C4, C6 (2002)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 265 ha
Site description (2002 baseline)
This small archipelago is located between Madeira (300km) and the Canarias islands (150km) and is mainly constituted by two volcanic rocky islands: the Selvagem Grande and the Selvagem Pequena 18km to the south. The Selvagem Grande presents a 245ha plateau with an altitude of 100m rounden by several slopes and steep banks. The Selvagem pequena, near sea level, presents, besides rocky areas inner sand-dunes. This island and the close islet (Ilhéude Fora) are rounded by shoals that increase the area in low-tides.
Key biodiversity
The Selvagens hold one of the mainest seabirds colonies in the atlantic ocean. In the Selvagem Grande there are important populations of Calonectris diomedea, Bulweria bulwerii, Puffinus assimilis, Oceanodroma castro and Pelagodroma marina, as well as Anthus berthelotti canariensis. In the Selvagem Pequena, where there are no terrestrial birds, are remarcable the great Pelagodroma marina colony and the ocassional breeding of Sterna dougallii and Sterna fuscata.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Selvagens (Portugal). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/selvagens-iba-portugal on 22/11/2024.