Current view: Text account
Site description (2002 baseline):
Site location and context
Small inshore rocky islet, near 250 metres at SE of Ponta de Altar, close to River Arade mouth. The islet (leixão) has a very little area, with cliffy banks to a maximum altitude of 23 metres.The flat top is relatively plane and covered by spread scrub.
The most important heronry on offshore rocky islets in Portugal.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The heronry is inaccessible and therefore not prone to disturbance. The egrets do however feed in a nearby estuary that is subject to pressure from port development and tourism activities.
National Special Protection Area Leixão da Gaivota.
International Special Protection Area Leixão da Gaivota.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Leixão da Gaivota (Portugal). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/leixão-da-gaivota-iba-portugal on 27/12/2024.
