Birds are the most capable fliers on Earth. According to the classification system of BirdLife International, there are 11,162 species. Do you know which birds are the fastest fliers?
This article introduces the ten fastest flying birds on Earth, showcasing their astonishing speeds as they soar through the skies, demonstrating unique flying skills and adaptability. From the falcon's rapid swoop to the swallow's agile darting, let's explore the ultimate beauty of flight in nature.
1. Frigatebird (418 km/h)
Frigatebirds are a collective term for five large seabirds in the family Frigatebirdidae of the order Pelecaniformes. They possess very long, slender wings and long, deeply forked tails, with a wingspan reaching approximately 2.3 meters. Renowned for their well-developed pectoral muscles and exceptional flight capabilities, frigatebirds are hailed as "flying champions." They fly with lightning speed, reaching speeds of up to 418 kilometers per hour during hunting swoops, making them the fastest flying birds on Earth.
In addition, frigatebirds can fly to an altitude of about 1,200 meters, perform agile flips, and fly continuously for more than 1,600 kilometers, with a maximum range of about 4,000 kilometers.
2. Peregrine Falcon (395 km/h)
The peregrine falcon is a medium-sized bird of prey, the national bird of the United Arab Emirates and Angola, renowned for its exceptionally fast flight. While its normal flight speed is around 50 to 100 kilometers per hour, its dive speed can exceed 300 kilometers per hour, making it one of the fastest diving birds.
The peregrine falcon's hunting skills are not innate; it teaches its young how to hunt while hunting, a rare occurrence in nature. During a dive, the peregrine falcon experiences pressure up to 25 times the force of gravity, the highest known stress level experienced by any large animal.
3. Swift (353.5 km/h)
The swift is the fastest small bird in the world, typically flying at 170 kilometers per hour, but capable of soaring to a maximum speed of 353.5 kilometers per hour. Its scissor-shaped tail feathers help reduce air resistance, its rounded head resembles a ping-pong ball, and its slender body allows it to fly with the speed of an arrow.
Each year, the swift only stays on the ground for about two months during the breeding season before migrating from Europe to Africa for the winter. During this ten-month migration and hibernation period, they almost never land to rest.
4. Golden Eagle (322 km/h)
Golden eagles are well-known birds of prey, mainly distributed in the Northern Hemisphere, and are famous for their unique appearance and agile flight. They can reach a length of 1 meter, a wingspan of 2.3 meters, and a weight of up to 7 kilograms.
Golden eagles possess exceptional eyesight, enabling them to accurately capture prey from high altitudes. Upon spotting their prey, they swoop down at astonishing speeds, reaching up to 322 kilometers per hour. At the last moment, the golden eagle abruptly stops flapping its wings, then seizes the prey's head, using its sharp talons to pierce the skull and swiftly end its life.
5. Gyrfalcon (209 km/h)
The gyrfalcon is hailed as the king of the northern skies, but it is extremely sensitive to high temperatures and usually flies rapidly in a straight line at low altitudes. When it spots its prey, it quickly folds its wings and swoops down like a dart, directly attacking its prey. Its swoop speed can reach 209 kilometers per hour.
The gyrfalcon gets its name from its extremely fast flight speed when hunting, as it is as swift as a thrown spear.
6. White-throated Needletail (169 km/h)
The white-throated needletail is a bird belonging to the genus Apodiformes in the family Apodidae. They often fly in flocks over forests, especially in open forest valleys, and sometimes appear alone or in pairs. Their flight is extremely rapid, sometimes soaring high into the sky and sometimes plunging rapidly, accompanied by a "whoosh" sound. Their flight speed can reach up to 169 kilometers per hour, making them one of the fastest bird species.
The white-throated needletail swift mainly feeds on flying insects such as dipterans, ants, and coleopterans. It usually hunts in the air, but sometimes it also flies low over the ground or water to hunt.
7. Hobby (161 km/h)
The Eurasian Hobby is a small bird of prey, even smaller than the Saker Falcon and Peregrine Falcon. It is one of the more common birds of prey in China, usually found alone or in pairs. The Eurasian Hobby flies swiftly and agilely, like lightning, gliding after a brief flapping flight and hovering briefly in the air.
They fly at a speed of about 161 kilometers per hour and mainly prey on small birds and large pests. They sometimes even catch bats and can catch birds such as barn swallows and swifts that fly extremely fast.
8. Red-breasted Merganser (130 km/h)
The Common Merganser is a medium-sized, fish-eating duck widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere, India, and China, migrating to Southeast Asia during the winter. It can fly at speeds up to 130 kilometers per hour, exhibiting remarkable speed, especially when catching fish, crabs, and shrimp.
Although the Common Merganser is a fast and straight-flying bird, it is somewhat clumsy to take off by rapidly flapping its wings on the water. They primarily feed on small fish, but also consume other aquatic organisms such as insects, insect larvae, crustaceans, and mollusks.
9. Grey-headed Albatross (127 km/h)
The Grey-headed Albatross is a bird belonging to the genus *Baldabra*. It stands approximately 63 centimeters tall with a wingspan of up to 2.2 meters, displaying its distinctive orange-yellow beak and grey head. This large seabird is widely distributed in the oceans of the Southern Hemisphere.
Grey-headed albatrosses can fly at speeds up to 127 kilometers per hour, with an average speed of 109.43 kilometers per hour when foraging. They can glide over the sea for extended periods, making full use of aerodynamic principles, and sometimes can even go for hours without flapping their wings.
10. Australian Spotted Duck (118 km/h)
The Australian Spotted Duck is somewhat unique, belonging to a species between a duck and a goose, but its kinship differs from other ducks and geese. This bird is endemic to Australia, with a wingspan of up to 34 centimeters and a maximum flight speed of 118 kilometers per hour.
Due to frequent environmental changes in Australia's inland waters, many waterways have disappeared due to drought, a phenomenon that has become more severe, especially after the development of agriculture and animal husbandry, which has greatly affected the survival of the Australian Spotted Duck.
Based on a compilation from various internet websites, the above is a ranking of the ten fastest flying birds on Earth. This list was compiled by searching for the maximum flight speeds of each bird species using search platforms, and the ranking is for reference and entertainment purposes only. If you have any different opinions, please feel free to offer suggestions or corrections in the comments section.
