Flight speed in birds can be measured in two ways: level flight, which is the speed of flying in a straight line, and diving flight, which is the speed when birds plunge down to catch prey. Diving flight is generally faster but can only be sustained for a short time. When determining the fastest birds, factors such as wing speed, flight speed, and dive speed are considered.
Wing speed is measured by the number of flaps per second, with lighter birds generally flapping faster. Flight speed depends on aerodynamics, body mass, wingspan, wing shape, and muscle strength.
Dive speed is the highest airspeed achieved during a dive, often exceeding the bird's regular flight speed. The peregrine falcon holds the record for the fastest dive speed, reaching speeds of up to 240 mph.
When we compile the list of the fastest birds in the world, all relevant factors above will be considered and taken into account.
10. Common Swift - 70 mph
Image: Imran Shah via flickr
The Common Swift exhibits two different modes of level flight. During normal flight, it maintains a steady speed of 22 to 26 mph. However, during the breeding season, it can reach a remarkable maximum level flight speed of approximately 70 mph by adjusting its wing profile and enhancing its aerodynamic performance.
What sets the Common Swift apart is its ability to engage in the longest uninterrupted flight among birds. Researchers employed iPhone technology, attaching light sensors and accelerometers to Common Swifts, to track their migration routes. They discovered that three of the tracked birds completed the non-stop 10-month journey, while the others remained airborne 99% of the time.
The Common Swift is a medium-sized bird with curved wings and a forked tail. It spends the spring and summer breeding in its natural territories across Europe and Asia, and migrates to southern Africa for the winter.
9. Red-breasted Merganser - 80 mph
Image: Rodney Campbell via flickr
The Red-breasted Merganser is a duck species known for its impressive flight speed, reaching speeds of up to 81 miles per hour. However, they require a running start to take off into the air. When factoring in the wind, their speed can reach approximately 100 mph, making them the fastest duck species in the world. Despite their speed, they can only sustain these high speeds for short durations.
Red-breasted Mergansers are commonly found in large numbers in freshwater lakes and rivers across North America and Europe. They migrate towards Northern Canada and Alaska from the interior lands of North America before the arrival of winter.
Breeding sites for the red-breasted merganser include the Great Lakes, marshes, and wetlands of Northern Canada. The male bird stretches its neck and emits a purring sound to attract the female. The female lays up to 10 eggs. Their diet primarily consists of fish, crabs, and shrimps.
8. Grey-headed Albatross - 79 mph
Image Wikimedia Commons
The grey-headed albatross is a large seabird primarily found breeding in the South Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean. It is distinguished by its bluish-grey head and neck, as well as a black-grey tail. With an impressive wingspan of 2.2 meters, the grey-headed albatross can reach a maximum flying speed of 79 mph (130km/h). While foraging, it typically travels at a steady speed of 68 mph (109 km/h) without taking breaks.
Rather than actively flapping their wings, albatrosses rely on floating along the wind currents to minimize energy expenditure. The flight speed of the grey-headed albatross is greatly influenced by the wind conditions of the Southern Ocean, and they make use of strong Antarctic storms to fly faster.
Grey headed albatross is a large seabird that breed main in the South Atlantic sector of Southern ocean. As the name indicates, they have a bluish grey head and neck and black grey tail. With 2.2 meter wingspan, the grey headed albatross can fly at maximum speed of 78.9 mph. During foraging they travel at normal speed of 68 mph without rest.
Albatrosses don’t so much fly as float along the wind to minimize the flapping motion and conserve energy. The wind conditions of Southern ocean have a huge influence on the flight speed of grey headed albatross. They take advantage of strong Antarctic storms to fly faster.
The grey-headed albatross is unique on this list. This bird spends almost its entire life at sea, sometimes roaming more than 8,000 miles in search of food. The only time it returns to land is for the breeding season.
7. Eurasian Hobby - 100 mph (161 km/h)
The Eurasian Hobby is capable of flying at a maximum speed of 100 mph (161 km/h), showcasing rapid and acrobatic flight abilities. However, its most remarkable trait lies in its precise mid-air control, allowing the male to transfer food to the female during courtship displays.
This bird of prey preys upon small bats, swallows, and swifts, making it faster than other raptor species. Sporting a slate-grey coloration with a dark crown and two short black moustachial stripes, the Eurasian Hobby belongs to the Falconidae bird family.
It can be found in open woodlands, river edges, and forests across Africa, Europe, and Asia. The Eurasian Hobby is a long-distance migrant, with its wintering grounds situated in Central Africa and Southern Asia.
An Eurasian hobby couple catching cicadas and dragonflies in the air..!
6. White-throated Needletail - 105 mph (169 km/h)
Image: Ron Knight via flickr
The white-throated needletail, formerly known as the spine-tailed swift, is also nicknamed the storm bird. With a maximum speed of 105 mph (169 km/h), it is recognized as the fastest bird in flapping flight. Its long curved wings and powerful body contribute to its exceptional speed.
Despite resembling birds of prey due to their large and strong wings, white-throated needletails primarily engage in coasting flight, capturing insects on the wing. They feed on various insects, including moths, bees, and flies.
This bird is migratory, breeding in Central Asia and southern Siberia, and then wintering in regions such as the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Australia. It belongs to the Apodidae bird family.
5. Red-tailed Hawk - 120 mph (193km/h)
The red-tailed hawk, found throughout North America, is not the fastest flyer but can reach speeds of over 120 mph (193km/h) when diving. Its conventional flying speeds range from 20 to 40 mph (32 km/h - 64 km/h). This opportunistic hunter preys on a variety of animals, with a preference for rodents and small mammals.
The red-tailed hawk is a widespread bird of prey, breeding across North America from Alaska and northern Canada to Panama and the West Indies. It belongs to the Buteo genus and is one of the most common members within this group in North America and globally. In the United States, it is colloquially referred to as a "chickenhawk," although it rarely preys on standard-sized chickens.
Red-Tailed Hawk vs. Rattler | National Geographic
4. Gyrfalcon - 68 mph
Image: Smudge 9000 via flickr
Gyrfalcon is the largest falcon species in the world, and executes steep dives from great heights to capture its prey, reaching a maximum speed of 130 mph. Notably, gyrfalcons possess exceptional control during their rapid dives.
What sets Gyrfalcon apart is its ability to maintain impressive speeds over long distances. While other birds may surpass their speed in short bursts, gyrfalcons can average speeds of about 50 to 68 mph over remarkably long distances without slowing down or stopping, a feat that few other species can achieve.
Gyrfalcons are monogamous birds, faithfully returning to their mates each year until one of them passes away. They typically build their nests on cliffs and exhibit site fidelity, returning to the same location every year.
3. Golden Eagle - 200 mph
The golden eagle is a well-known bird of prey in the Northern Hemisphere, characterized by its dark brown color with lighter golden-brown plumage on the napes. It belongs to the Accipitridae bird family.
With its long and broad wings, the golden eagle is capable of soaring in the air for extended periods. It possesses strong vision and can spot prey from great heights. While its average flight speed may not appear impressive at 28 to 32 mph (45 km/h - 51 km/h), the golden eagle can swiftly dive upon its prey with a remarkable speed ranging from 150 to 200 mph (241 km/h- 322 km/h).
Similar to other raptors, the golden eagle often forms lifelong mating pairs. Their courtship involves a display of both birds diving and circling each other. The nests, constructed by both eagles, are frequently used for many years and gradually increase in size with each breeding season.
The Golden Eagle - Master of the Sky _ Free Documentary Nature
2. Saker Falcon - 200 mph
Image from needpix
With a wingspan of just over 4 feet, the saker falcon is recognized for its horizontal pursuit of prey, focusing on pigeons and squirrels. It preys with a dive speed of up to 200 mph (322 km/h), quickly paralyzing its target. During normal flight, it can reach a maximum speed of approximately 93 (150km/h) mph. It typically hunts in open areas like grasslands near trees and cliffs, or on the fringes of deserts.
During nesting, the saker falcon repurposes old nests made by other birds, constructing its own and laying 3-6 eggs. Sadly, the species is currently endangered, highlighting the importance of conservation efforts for its survival. The saker falcon is found in the open grasslands of Eurasia and Africa.
1. Peregrine Falcon - 240 mph
Image: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters via flickr
Peregrine Falcon is a large falcon. It is recognized as the fastest-flying bird globally, reaching speeds of 200 to 240 mph (322 to 386 km/h) during its high-speed dive. In level flight, it can sustain speeds of up to 68 mph (109 km/h). This bird possesses the remarkable ability to fold its wings against its body, minimizing drag and aiding in its rapid flight. It makes constant adjustments to wing position and speed until the moment it strikes its prey.
Peregrine falcons are known for their impressive hunting technique called the "stoop." They initiate a high dive from great heights to capture small birds. The speed of their dive is remarkable, and their strikes are often lethal to their prey. The peregrine falcon possesses a strong heart and highly efficient lungs, enabling it to receive an ample supply of oxygen even at high speeds during the dive. This physiological advantage contributes to their ability to maintain exceptional performance while hunting.
It has a blue-grey back, white underparts with bars, and a black head. This falcon belongs to the Falconidae bird family. It can be found in almost all parts of the world, except for the polar regions.
The female falcon typically lays a clutch of 3 to 4 eggs in a nest called a scrape. Both the male and female falcon participate in protecting and incubating the eggs for approximately a month. After about 45 days, the chicks, known as eyases, start learning to fly. Falcons reach sexual maturity between 2 to 3 years of age and can live up to 20 years, although the average lifespan ranges from 7 to 15 years.
Peregrine Falcon Nesting 4k HQ
Top 10 Fastest Birds In The World
