• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

Site description (2000 baseline)
A small island lying mid-way between mainland Malta and Gozo. The karst landscape supports sclerophyllous scrub. An afforestation programme has been carried out on a limited scale with Pinus. There is a sand-dune system at Santa Maria bay with typical native vegetation, including trees of Tamarix and Vitex.

Key biodiversity
An important site for breeding Puffinus yelkouan. Many trans-Saharan passerine migrants seek refuge on the island, especially during bad weather conditions in spring, and birds of prey occur regularly on migration, including Circus aeruginosus, Milvus migrans and Falco vespertinus. Falco peregrinus used to breed, and a pair of Asio flammeus nested in 1983.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Comino island (Malta). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/comino-island-iba-malta on 23/12/2024.