Birds are fascinating creatures. They have wings with feathers, they can fly, and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes. There are more than 10,000 species of birds around the world. Some are small enough to perch on your finger, while others are as large as an airplane.
Today we are going to talk about some of the fastest birds in the world. Let’s start with the fastest bird on earth: Peregrine Falcon. It reaches speeds up to 200 miles per hour (320 km/h) when diving for prey at high altitudes! It can pursue its target high into the sky and then swoop down at speeds that no other land animal except the cheetah can match. Not surprisingly, it is also one of few animals that catches living prey with its feet rather than its bill!
The 5 Fastest Birds
- The Peregrine Falcon
- The Black Kite
- The Osprey
- The Common Swift
- The Barn Swallow
The Peregrine Falcon
Peregrine falcons are the fastest birds in the world, capable of reaching speeds up to 200 miles per hour (320 km/h) when diving for prey at high altitudes. They can pursue their target high into the sky and then swoop down at speeds that no other land animal except the cheetah can match!
Not surprisingly, it is also one of few animals that catches living prey with its feet rather than its bill.
The peregrine falcon's head is not feathered; this allows for better hearing and an improved sense of smell because it has nostrils at the end of its beak. The peregrine falcon's wingspan is about four feet long, but they are often seen soaring between 1,000-6,000 feet high in the sky.
The Black Kite
The Black Kite can fly at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour (64 km/h). It is dark brown with black wings and a black tail.
The Osprey
Another fast bird is the Osprey. This fish-eating raptor can reach speeds of up to 100 miles per hour (160 km/h). It soars high in the sky and then dives down for its prey, usually a fish.
An Osprey has a vertical, slender body and a large head with a hooked bill. It has long wings, which are notched at the tips to form shallow 'fingers'. The tail is long and deeply forked, while the feet are small with sharp claws.
One of the best natural swimmers in the world, it can even dive into water from a height of 30 meters!
The Common Swift
Another bird that is fast is the Common Swift. It can fly at speeds of 60 miles per hour (96 km/h) and has been clocked at 100 miles per hour (160 km/h).
The truth is, most birds are not as fast as these two. But they do have one thing in common with them: A hollow bone structure. This enables them to take flight quickly, stay aloft for periods of time, and even maneuver around obstacles mid-flight.
The Barn Swallow
The Barn Swallow is a small bird that can fly miles and miles without stopping for breath. It can fly up to 24,000 miles per year, which translates into 88,000 km!
This means the Barn Swallow is the fastest flying bird on earth! The Barn Swallow's long, pointed wings are specially adapted to catch the wind. They have dark tips on the edges of their wings which help them stay in flight.
When it catches their prey, they swallow it whole at incredible speeds—up to 18 times per second! This is an amazing feat considering that other birds are unable to use their beaks because they are too short or too weak to tear food apart.
It's estimated that up to 10% of all animal species alive today are birds. That means there are thousands of different kinds of birds for you to learn about. Keep reading our blog for more information about animals around the world!
Conclusion
- The Peregrine Falcon
- The Black Kite
- The Osprey
- The Common Swift
- The Barn Swallow
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