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

Site description (2000 baseline)
An offshore islet of calcareous rock, mainly upper coralline limestone, which is bounded by cliffs and screes. The top of the islet is a plateau which is not easily accessible from below. The screes of loose boulders and rock debris surrounding the base of the cliff result mainly from past bombing practice by the military (up to 1971). Shore erosion due to wind and wave action is a predominant feature.

Key biodiversity
The screes have proved to be ideal breeding sites for Hydrobates pelagicus, and the islet supports one of the largest colonies in the Mediterranean. Other breeding seabirds include Calonectris diomedea and Larus cachinnans; the latter is the main predator on Hydrobates pelagicus and several tens of pairs breed below the cliffs.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Filfla islet (Malta). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/filfla-islet-iba-malta on 23/11/2024.