Have you ever wondered looking at the sky, how cool is it to fly and how come birds can fly?
Well technically speaking the shape of the wings of birds and the ability to move it through the air are the two reasons behind the science of bird's flight.
Birds use their strong breast muscles to flap their wings and give them the thrust to move through the air and fly.
But how fast can they really move in air? How fast is the fastest bird?
We at Resourceblend were amazed by gathering the details about this particular post looking at some of the best natural speedsters.
Below is a list of some of the top fastest flying birds with their maximum airspeed.
#1 Peregrine falcon - the fastest bird in the world
| Max speed | 390kmph (242mph) |
| Length | 34cm - 58 cm |
| Wingspan | 74cm - 120cm |
These Falcons nest on cliffs up to 1,300 feet high.
Peregrine falcons are quick, large predatory raptors. Peregrine falcons can be hard to identify because of their quick flight and camouflage coloring.
Historically known as the duck hawk in North America, the peregrine falcon is a large, crow-sized falcon.
It has a blue-grey back, barred white underparts, and a black head. If the wings are open, dark brown bars across the wings are also visible.
Peregrine falcons eat mostly other birds. They consume a variety of species.
Their typical prey items include shorebirds, ducks, grebes, gulls, pigeons, and songbirds.
Peregrine falcons also eat bats, and they occasionally steal prey—including fish and rodents—from other raptors.
The peregrine falcon is the world's fastest diving bird.
The record-setting falcon was once clocked diving at a speed of 186 miles (300 kilometers) an hour.
#2 Golden eagle
They are extremely swift , and can dive at speeds of more than 150 miles per hour.
| Max speed | 320kmph (200mph) |
| Length | 66cm -100cm |
| Wingspan | 180cm - 230cm |
This powerful eagle is North America's largest bird of prey and the national bird of Mexico.
These majestic birds range from Mexico through much of western North America as far north as Alaska, they also appear in the east but are uncommon.
Golden eagles are also found in Asia, northern Africa, and Europe.
These birds are dark brown, with lighter golden-brown plumage on their heads and necks.
Using their speed and sharp talons they snatch up rabbits, marmots, and ground squirrels.
They also eat carrion, reptiles, birds, fish, and smaller fare such as large insects.
They have even been known to attack full grown deer.
Today, golden eagles are protected by law because certain Ranchers killed them thinking they will attack their livestock.
#3 Gyrfalcon
| Max speed | 209kmph (130mph) |
| Length | 48cm - 61cm |
| Wingspan | 110cm - 130cm |
The gyrfalcon is a very large falcon , being about the same size as the largest buteos (buzzards) but probably are slightly heavier.
The largest falcon in the world , the ghostly Gyrfalcon is a fierce predator in the High Arctic, where it chases down ptarmigans in flight or plummets from the sky at breathtaking speeds.
They have pointed wings , but they are not as pointed or as narrow as the wings of smaller falcons.
The tail is relatively long. The body is thick and powerful, particularly in females.
Its plumage varies with location, with birds being coloured from all-white to dark brown.
These colour variations are called morphs.
Like other falcons, it shows sexual dimorphism, with females much larger than the male. For centuries, the gyrfalcon has been valued as a hunting bird.
Their Typical prey includes the ptarmigan and waterfowl, which it may take in-flight; it also takes fish and mammals.
They hunt primarily birds in open country, sometimes flying high and attacking from above, but more often approaching fast and low, hugging ground contours.
They often perch on the ground.
#4 White throated needletail
| Max speed | 169kmph (105 mph) |
| Length | 20cm - 22cm |
| Wingspan | 43cm - 48cm |
The white-throated needletail is a migratory bird, breeding in Central Asia and southern Siberia, and wintering south in the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia and Australia.
In June 2013, an individual was spotted in Great Britain after 22 years.
It later flew into a wind turbine and died; its body was sent to a museum.
White-throated Needletail often occur in large numbers over eastern and northern Australia.
The White-throated Needletail, also known as Needle-tailed Swift or Spine-tailed Swift , is a large swift.
It is the fastest flying bird in flapping flight , being capable of 170 km/h (105mph) , faster than other swifts.
The White-throated Needletail feeds on flying insects, such as termites, ants, beetles and flies.
They catch insects in flight in their wide gaping beaks.
While feeding, the White-throated Needletail protects its eyes with a special membrane and a small ridge of feathers.
The birds also drink in flight.
#5 Eurasian hobby
| Max speed | 160kmph (99 mph) |
| Length | 29cm - 36cm |
| Wingspan | 74cm - 84cm |
The Eurasian Hobby is a small, elegant falcon with remarkable skills in the air.
Its fast, powerful flight allows it to catch insects and birds on the wing.
It often hunts at dawn and dusk and insects are often eaten during the flight.
They can fly at a maximum speed of 100 mph. They are also known for rapid and acrobatic flight.
It has gray upperparts with plain tail, boldly streaked underparts with rusty leggings and vent.
These are generally compared with Peregrine Falcon which are larger more stockier and shorter-tailed.
The Eurasian Hobby frequents open country, including farmland, marshes, savanna and taiga.
It can be seen in the lowland where scattered woodlands provide good nesting sites.
Prior to the breeding season, it often feeds in wetlands. The species occurs mainly in lowlands or foothills, but it can be seen in mountainous areas too, up to 4000 metres.
During the breeding season, these birds are clearly dominant as prey. Common prey species include birds like Skylark, Starlings, House and Tree Sparrows and other small songbirds.
Hobbies are capable of catching very fast birds like Swallows, Martins and even Swifts.
There we are with our post of fastest birds in the world. We hope you find it helpful. Still, have some queries or suggestions, put them in the comment box below.
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