When it comes to speed, birds are among the fastest animals on the planet. Their ability to fly gives them an advantage over land animals, and their streamlined bodies and powerful wing muscles allow some species to reach incredibly fast speeds during flight. But which bird is the absolute fastest? When looking at the top speeds achieved by different bird species, one bird stands out above all others as the #1 fastest in the world.
The Peregrine Falcon
The Peregrine falcon is widely considered to be the fastest bird on Earth. When diving for prey, these raptors can reach speeds over 200 mph. This makes them the fastest members of the animal kingdom.
Peregrine falcons have a number of special adaptations that allow them to reach such speeds. Their streamlined bodies and long, pointed wings minimize drag. Their nostrils even have a little tubercle that helps equalize pressure during their high-velocity dives, allowing them to breathe at speeds that would otherwise damage their lungs. And unlike many other bird species, peregrines have no oil gland on their tail, which would otherwise create drag.
These falcons primarily feed on other birds, which they capture in mid-air. Their incredible diving speeds give them an advantage when hunting agile prey like pigeons and ducks. By reaching speeds over 200 mph, they can quickly catch up to prey that would otherwise easily outmaneuver a slower predator.
When diving, peregrines will tuck in their wings and free fall from great heights. They can gain tremendous speed in this stoop, or dive. The highest measured speed of a stooping peregrine is 242 mph, achieved by a falcon diving from a height of 3,280 feet. However, speeds in excess of 200 mph are typical for these birds. This helps make them perhaps the most lethal hunters in the sky.
Fastest Level Flight
While peregrine falcons take the prize for fastest dive speed, some other birds have higher top airspeeds during level flight. That is, they can fly faster while moving horizontally rather than diving downward. The speed champions in level flight are:
- White-throated Needletail – 105 mph
- Eurasian Hobby – 100 mph
- Frigatebird – 95 mph
- Spine-tailed Swift – 95 mph
These swift-flying species are all built for speed, with aerodynamic bodies, long wings, and short tails. While not quite as fast as a stooping peregrine, they are able to sustain these high speeds using muscle power alone, without relying on gravity to accelerate them.
Fastest Wing Beat
While absolute speed is one measure of aerial performance, another is the speed at which a bird flaps its wings. The hummingbird has the fastest wing beat of any bird, at an average of 80 beats per second. While they can’t match the body mass-adjusted speed records of swifts and falcons, their tiny wings beat so rapidly that they allow the birds to perform aerobatic feats unmatched by other avian species.
Here are some of the fastest-flapping bird species:
- Anna’s Hummingbird – average 80 wingbeats per second
- Allen’s Hummingbird – 74 wingbeats per second
- Rufous Hummingbird – 55 wingbeats per second
- Chimney Swift – 38 wingbeats per second
Hummingbirds achieve these rapid wing beats thanks to specialized shoulder joints that allow extensive rotational movement. They also have proportionately massive chest muscles to power their tiny wings.
Special Honorable Mentions
While swifts, falcons, and hummingbirds dominate the top speed rankings, a few other birds deserve special mention for their speed:
Golden Eagle
These large raptors are among the most powerful aerial hunters, using their size and speed to attack robust prey like deer and mountain goats. Golden eagles can reach speeds over 150 mph in a hunting dive.
Albatross
One of the largest flying birds, the wandering albatross has a maximum cruising speed of around 75 mph. It catches updrafts and exploits wind and wave patterns to travel enormous distances while expending little energy flapping.
Ostrich
This flightless bird may seem like an odd inclusion, but ostriches are very speedy on the ground. They can run at over 40 mph, covering up to 16 feet in a single stride. The muscles that once powered their wings now help propel their legs, allowing impressive sprinting speed.
Conclusion
When it comes to identifying the fastest bird, the peregrine falcon takes first place for its record high-speed dives. No other animal on earth can match its stooping speeds, which exceed 200 mph. For sheer level flight speed, swifts and swift-like birds top the ranks. And tiny hummingbirds beat their wings faster than any other species, enabling unique flight capabilities. Different types of speed tests reveal different speed champions in the bird world.
While peregrines are the fastest over short distances, frigatebirds and swifts have the highest travel speeds over long distances. Cheetahs and pronghorn antelopes can outrun an ostrich on the ground over a sprint, but no land animal can keep up with an ostrich over several miles. When their different styles of flight and running are factored in, birds remain among the speed kings of the animal kingdom.
| Bird | Top Speed | Speed Context |
|---|---|---|
| Peregrine Falcon | 242 mph | Fastest dive speed (stoop) |
| White-throated Needletail | 105 mph | Fastest level flight speed |
| Anna’s Hummingbird | 80 wingbeats/second | Fastest wing beat |
| Ostrich | 43 mph | Fastest running bird |
| Golden Eagle | 150 mph | Fastest diving raptor |
| Wandering Albatross | 75 mph | Fastest level cruising speed |
As these comparisons show, different species dominate speed metrics under different conditions. But overall, birds stand out as the fastest creatures when air speed and diving velocity are considered. Their specialized respiratory and cardiovascular systems enable feats of speed unmatched by any other animals in nature.
So whether it’s peregrines stooping at over 200 mph, hummingbirds beating their tiny wings 80 times per second, or ostriches sprinting across open ground at 40 mph, birds officially reign supreme as the fastest animals in the world!
