Top 10 Fastest Bird in the world
1. The Peregrine falcon (242 mph)
The Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) also known as the peregrine is a widespread bird of prey in the family Falconidae. A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-grey back, barred white underparts, and a black head. As is typical of bird-eating raptors, peregrine falcons are sexually dimorphic, females being considerably larger than males. The peregrine is renowned for its speed, reaching over 322 km/h (200 mph) during its characteristic hunting stoop (high speed dive), making it the fastest member of the animal kingdom. Unlike other birds the peregrine falcons have a strong heart and highly efficient lungs. According to a National Geographic TV program, the highest measured speed of a peregrine falcon is 389 km/h (242 mph). Maximum airspeed 400 km/h (242 mph).
2. The Golden Eagle (200 mph)
The Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is one of the best-known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the most widely distributed species of eagle. it belongs to the family Accipitridae. These birds are dark brown, with lighter golden-brown plumage on their napes. Golden eagles use their agility and speed combined with powerful feet and massive, sharp talons to snatch up a variety of prey (mainly hares, rabbits, marmots and other ground squirrels). Golden eagles maintain home ranges or territories that may be as large as 200 km2 (77 sq mi). They build large nests in high places (mainly cliffs) to which they may return for several breeding years. Most breeding activities take place in the spring. Golden eagles can also fly at an attitude of 10000-15000 feet. Maximum airspeed 320 km/h (200 mph).
3. The Gyrfalcon (130 mph)
The gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) also spelled gerfalcon, is the largest of the falcon species. The gyrfalcon breeds on Arctic coasts and the islands of North America, Europe, and Asia. It is mainly a resident there also, but some gyrfalcons disperse more widely after the breeding season, or in winter. Individual vagrancy can take birds for long distances. The gyrfalcon is dispersed throughout much of the Northern Hemisphere, with populations in Northern America, Greenland, and Northern Europe.They dive steeply to catch the prey from great heights. During a dive the gyrfalcon can reach a maximum speed of 130 mph. The gyrfalcons can exceptionally control their speed during a dive.
4. The White-throated needletail (105 mph)
The white-throated needletail (Hirundapus caudacutus), also known as needle-tailed swift or spine-tailed swift, is a large swift. It is commonly reputed to reach speeds of up to 170 km/h (105 mph), The white-throated needletail is a mid-sized bird, similar in size to an Alpine swift, but a different build, with a heavier barrel-like body. These birds have very short legs which they use only for clinging to vertical surfaces. They build their nests in rock crevices in cliffs or hollow trees. They never settle voluntarily on the ground and spend most of their lives in the air, living on the insects they catch in their beaks. Even the common swift can cruise at a maximum speed of 31 metres per second (112 km/h; 70 mph). In a single year the common swift can cover at least 200,000 km.
5. The Eurasian Hobby (100 mph)
The Eurasian hobby (Falco subbuteo), or just simply hobby, is a small slim falcon. It belongs to a rather close-knit group of similar falcons often considered a subgenus Hypotriorchis. They found in open woodlands, river edges and forests across Africa, Europe and Asia. The Eurasian hobby is a long distant migrant bird. They migrate towards Central Africa and Southern Asia to spend the winter season. They can fly at maximum speed of 100 mph. They are also known for rapid and acrobatic flight.
6. The Frigatebird (95 mph)
Frigatebirds (Fregata) are a family Fregatidae of seabirds found across all tropical and subtropical oceans. The five extant species are classified in a single genus, Fregata. All have predominantly black plumage, long, deeply forked tails and long hooked bills. Their wings are long and pointed and can span up to 2.3 metres (7.5 ft), the largest wing area to body weight ratio of any bird. They are also known to stay on air for a week. It is said to be the frigate bird only comes to land to rest and breed. Unlike other fast birds the frigate birds can’t walk well on land, especially in seashores. To catch the preys such as flying fish, crabs and crustaceans the frigate birds glide in the air and pluck their prey at the right moment.
8. The Red Breasted Merganser (81 mph)
The red-breasted merganser (Mergus serrator) is a diving duck, one of the sawbills. They found in large numbers in freshwater lakes and rivers across North America and Europe. Red-breasted mergansers dive and swim underwater. They mainly eat small fish, but also aquatic insects, crustaceans, and frogs.Its breeding habitat is freshwater lakes and rivers across northern North America, Greenland, Europe, and Asia. It is migratory and many northern breeders winter in coastal waters further south.The fastest duck ever recorded was a red-breasted merganser that attained a top airspeed of 100 mph while being pursued by an airplane.
9. The Grey-headed albatross (78.9 mph)
The grey-headed albatross (Thalassarche chrysostoma) also known as the grey-headed mollymawk, is a large seabird from the albatross family. It has a circumpolar distribution, nesting on isolated islands in the Southern Ocean and feeding at high latitudes, further south than any of the other mollymawks. Its name derives from its ashy-grey head, throat and upper neck. It part of Accipitridae family, Maximum airspeed 209 km/h (78.9 mph).
10. The Canvasback (73 mph)
The canvasback (Aythya valisineria) is a species of diving duck, the largest found in North America. They have a wingspan of 34 inches. The Canvasbacks are migratory birds. At the start of winter season they migrate towards the Great Lakes, located between the borders of U.S and Canada. The canvasback feeds mainly by diving, sometimes dabbling, mostly eating seeds, buds, leaves, tubers, roots, snails, and insect larvae. They can achieve a maximum speed of 73 mph in flight.
