What is the fastest bird in the world? When we think of speed, cheetahs or high-speed vehicles often come to mind, but some birds have changed the meaning of “fast”! These amazing birds fly, dive and glide so fast that most of the land animals are caught before their feet. From the breathtaking dives of the majestic Peregrine Falcon to the swift glides of the White-throated Needletail, here is a countdown of the top 10 fastest birds. Get ready to be surprised by nature’s fastest flyer!
1. Peregrine Falcon
The Peregrine Falcon, believed to be the world’s fastest bird, reaches tremendous speeds while diving to catch its prey. This bird is found on every continent except Antarctica, and it also thrives in natural habitats such as rocks near water and tall buildings in cities. When it dives for prey, called a “stoop”, the Peregrine Falcon flaps its wings and reaches speeds of over 390 km/h, faster than a Formula 1 car. Hey! It has bluish-gray feathers and dark bars running across its body, which help it hide among rocks and tall buildings when it hunts medium-sized birds in mid-air.
2. Golden Eagle
The Golden Eagle is one of the world’s largest and most powerful predatory birds. It can reach speeds of up to 200 mph (320 km/h) while diving, which helps it capture its prey with very high accuracy. Golden Eagles are found primarily in the Northern Hemisphere, from North America to parts of Europe, Asia, and North Africa. They like open or semi-open areas, such as mountains, rocky areas and hilly areas.
Golden Eagles have dark brown feathers and a distinctive golden-brown colour on the back of the neck, which makes them easy to spot in the jungle. Their wingspan can reach approximately 7 feet (220 cm), and Golden Eagles soar majestically over their territory, hunting mostly mammals such as rabbits and squirrels but also occasionally hunting and scavenging other birds. Lie down when needed.
3. Gyrfalcon
The Gyrfalcon is a powerful and agile bird, famous for its speed and its adaptation to Arctic habitats. It is the largest falcon species and stands out with its pearly build, long tail, and warm feathers. Gyrfalcons come in a variety of colours, from pure white to dark grey and almost black, which helps them stay well hidden in snowy or rocky areas. They primarily inhabit the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions and nest on coastal cliffs and tundra landscapes in areas such as northern Canada, Greenland, and Iceland.
In flight, Gyrfalcons can reach speeds of approximately 50-68 mph (80-109 kph) in level flight, making them one of the top 10 fastest birds in the world. Their speed and strength come from their streamlined body, powerful wings, and light, aerodynamic feathers.
4. White-throated Needletail
The White-throated Needletail (also called spine-tailed swift) is one of the fastest birds in the world, reaching speeds of up to 169 km/h (105 mph) in flight. It has a distinctive colour, with thick grey-brown feathers that shine with a green gloss, long curved wings and a spiky tail that is visible from the surface of the protruding feather shafts. This bird’s name comes from its white throat and undertail, which creates a unique contrast with its otherwise dark plumage.
The White-throated Needletail is known for its long migration, breeding in northern Asia, such as Russia and Siberia, and migrating to Southeast Asia and Australia after the breeding season. These migratory trips often occur in large flocks, and these birds make use of rising thermal currents and wind fronts, which help them travel thousands of miles.
5. Eurasian Hobby
The Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo) is a small and agile falcon known for its tremendous speed and manoeuvrability, especially when hunting. Its wingspan is approximately 60-70 cm, and its body length is 29-34 cm, which makes its physical features suitable for fast and accurate flight.
This bird’s streamlined body and long, dark feathers allow it to have extremely high control in the air, which helps it reach speeds of up to 100 mph (160 km/h) in flight. Its colouring includes dark slate-grey upperparts, pale streaked underparts, and a distinctive dark stripe along the face that looks like a “mustache”, making it quite striking in the jungle.
The Eurasian Hobby is found in open and semi-open landscapes such as grasslands, woodland edges, and wetlands, which occur in parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Its diet is mainly based on insects, such as dragonflies and beetles, and small birds, such as swallows and warblers, are also included in its prey.
6. Frigatebird
The Frigatebird, the master of the skies, is a spectacular bird that can reach speeds of 153 km/h 95 mph. Its wingspan can reach up to 7.5 feet, which helps it soar gracefully for hours without flapping its wings. These birds are seen during the day around islands, coastal areas, and mangroves, especially in areas such as the Galápagos Islands and the coasts of the Americas.
Famous for their impressive flying abilities, they are the fastest flying birds, boasting high speeds, but they are also famous for their unique feeding behaviour. Instead of diving for prey, they steal food mid-air from other birds, which shows their agility and opportunistic nature.
7. Spur-winged Goose
The Spur-winged Goose (Plectropterus gambensis) is Africa’s largest waterfowl, growing 75–115 cm long and weighing up to 10 kg. Its large body and black feathers, along with its distinctive white belly and patches on its wings, make it easily recognizable. This majestic bird can clock speeds of 143 kilometres per hour (89 miles per hour).
Males are much larger and have a prominent red patch on their face and a knob at the base of their beak. These geese are found in the wetlands, grasslands, and riverbanks of sub-Saharan Africa, where they eat plant material, seeds, and small animals. Famous for their large nests, Spur-winged Geese prefer to breed in areas that are near water. Despite its size, it is capable of flying, especially during migration.
8. Red-breasted Merganser
The Red-breasted Merganser is a fast-flying duck known for its tremendous speed. It can reach a top speed of up to 100 mph (160 km/h) in flight, making it one of the fastest ducks in the world. Its weight ranges from 800 to 1,350 grams (28–48 oz) at sea, and its wingspan ranges from 66 to 74 cm (26–29 inches). This bird is found in coastal waters and lakes of North America, Greenland, and some parts of Europe and Asia, and is an expert swimmer and diver. The Red-breasted Merganser has a distinctive spiky crest and serrated red bill, which is ideal for catching small fish.
9. Grey-headed Albatross
The Grey-headed Albatross is a remarkable bird known for its impressive flying abilities. Its wingspan reaches 2.2 meters, and it is the world’s fastest horizontal flier, reaching speeds of up to 127 km/h (79 mph). This bird spends a large part of its life in the sea and travels long distances to find food, sometimes covering up to 13,000 kilometres in a single trip. Grey-headed Albatross can fly around the world in little more than a month, which reflects their extraordinary stamina and speed in flight.
10. Anna’s Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird is a small bird that is very fast. It is known for its vibrant plumage, especially the male’s iridescent red throat. This species can achieve speeds of up to 60 miles per hour (97 kilometres per hour) during courtship dives, making it one of the top 10 fastest birds for its size.
Anna’s Hummingbirds are found on the western coast of North America, from southern Canada through northern Baja California. They have adapted well to urban environments, where they frequently visit gardens and feeders. In spite of their small size, they are very territorial and aggressively defend their feeding areas. On the related note, Fiery-throated Hummingbird is among the most colorful birds in the world.
Ultimately, these top 10 fastest birds in the world show just how much diversity there is in flight speeds across the bird world, with each species adopting its unique style of high-speed travel. This fastest birds list is based on their maximum recorded speeds, including level flight and diving speeds, as required. Some, such as the Peregrine Falcon, are able to achieve astonishing speeds in diving, and some, such as the White-throated Needletail, are superior in level flight.
