Why go
The laurel forest is the clearest setting for noticing how the island’s plant life differs from its cultivated coast. The Trocaz pigeon and Madeira firecrest are distinctive birds; seabirds connect the main island with the more remote Desertas and Selvagens.
The full story
Madeira belongs to Macaronesia, a group of Atlantic archipelagos with a rich mix of native plants and animals. Its laurel forest recalls vegetation once more widespread around southern Europe and northwest Africa. Species confined to Madeira developed within that island setting, from birds in the forest to many small invertebrates. The Trocaz pigeon and Madeira firecrest belong to the island’s birdlife, while Zino’s petrel and other seabirds add a link to cliff and offshore habitats. The uninhabited islands also support vulnerable land animals, including distinctive molluscs on the Desertas. You are more likely to grasp this diversity by comparing habitats than by chasing a checklist: dense woodland, exposed heights and sea-facing cliffs each support different life. Keep wildlife observation quiet and give animals room; these places are habitats as well as scenery.