What is the fastest bird?
Quick answer
The peregrine falcon is the fastest bird, and the fastest animal on Earth. In a hunting dive called a stoop, it can exceed 320 km/h (200 mph); the highest speed recorded is about 389 km/h (242 mph). In level flight, other birds such as swifts and some ducks are faster.
Speed records for birds depend on how they move: diving, flying level or running.
Fastest birds compared
| Bird | Top speed (approx.) | How |
|---|---|---|
| Peregrine falcon | ~389 km/h | Diving (stoop) |
| Golden eagle | ~240–320 km/h | Diving |
| White-throated needletail | ~110–170 km/h (disputed) | Level flight |
| Common swift | ~110 km/h | Level flight |
| Red-breasted merganser (duck) | ~130 km/h | Level flight |
| Ostrich | ~70 km/h | Running (fastest bird on land) |
How the stoop works
- The falcon climbs high above its prey, often another bird.
- It folds its wings close to its body, becoming a streamlined teardrop.
- It dives almost straight down, accelerating with gravity.
- Just before impact, it strikes with its feet, often killing prey instantly in midair.
Built for speed
- Stiff, pointed wings and a strong chest.
- Bony cones (tubercles) in its nostrils that may help control airflow so it can breathe at high speed.
- A third eyelid (nictitating membrane) that protects its eyes while keeping vision clear.
A conservation success
In the mid-20th century, the pesticide DDT thinned peregrine eggshells and their numbers crashed. After DDT was banned in many countries in the 1970s, peregrines recovered. Today they even nest on skyscrapers and bridges in big cities, hunting pigeons.
Peregrines live on every continent except Antarctica. The fastest animal on land is the cheetah. For another remarkable bird, see the bird that builds decorated bowers.
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