Data Zone
Country/territory: Seychelles
IBA criteria met: A4i (2001)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 1 ha
Site description (2001 baseline)
The site is a small, circular coral cay in the Amirantes group, situated c.300 km south-west of Mahé. There are no trees; the vegetation comprises mainly grass and low bushes surrounded by a steep sandy beach. It is fairly easy to land in calm conditions. There is no resident human population.
Key biodiversity
See Box for key species. The site is one of only three known breeding sites in Seychelles for Sterna dougallii. In addition, Sterna fuscata (c.5,000 pairs) and Anous stolidus (800–1,200 pairs) breed. All three species breed in dense colonies during the south-east monsoon.
Non-bird biodiversity: The turtles Chelonia mydas (EN) and Eretmochelys imbricata (CR) nest and may be taken by poachers.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Etoile island (Seychelles). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/etoile-island-iba-seychelles on 23/11/2024.