More than once before I’ve been driving along with a Pigeon or similar keeping up with the car at 25-30mph
This got me wondering, how fast can birds fly? And which one is the fastest?
The answer to the question mainly depends on how you define “fastest”. There is a major difference in the speeds recorded between a bird in a gravity-assisted dive and one that is flapping under it’s own power.
The Overall Speed Champion: Peregrine Falcon
When it comes to the absolute highest speed recorded by any bird, or indeed, any animal, the Peregrine Falcon tops the table.
- Top Speed: Up to 242 mph (389 km/h).
- The Method: This speed is only achieved during a “stoop”—a high-altitude hunting dive where the falcon tucks its wings and lets gravity do most of the work.
- To survive at these these speeds, they have evolved to have specialised “baffles” in their nostrils. These are designed to prevent their lungs from exploding from the air pressure.
The Fastest in Normal Flight: White-throated Needletail
If we are only going to consider a bird in normal flight, without the help of gravity and being in a dive, then the title usually goes to the White-throated Needletail, which is also known as the Spine-tailed Swift.
- Top Speed: Approximately 105 mph (169 km/h).
- The Catch: While this is widely cited in literature, some scientists debate the measurement accuracy. If we only count strictly “confirmed” data, the Common Swift holds a verified record of about 69 mph (111 km/h).
Comparison Table
| Bird | Max Speed | Flight Type |
| Peregrine Falcon | 242 mph | Diving (Stoop) |
| Golden Eagle | 150–200 mph | Diving |
| White-throated Needletail | 105 mph | Level Flight |
| Gyrfalcon | 68–90 mph | Sustained Level Flight |
