Why Peregrine Falcons Are The Fastest

Animals On Earth

When I google the fastest animal, this is what I got. A cheetah. A cheetah. A
little mammal-biased(tendencioso), maybe? The truly fastest animal on earth
has a max speed 3 times greater than the cheetah. Peregrine falcons can
leisurely cruise through the skies between 40 and 60 miles per hour but when
they’re diving toward their prey, they can reach speeds over 200 miles per
hour.

That comes out to 293 feet per second. It’s like flying the length of a football
field in 1.2 seconds or the length of this D.C. block. So how is it even possible
for peregrines to dive this fast? A peregrine falcon is around the size of a crow,
weighing between 1 and 3 pounds with a wingspan up to 3.6 feet. They prey
on other birds by dive bombing¹ them and snatching them mid-air.

The first thing you see when a Peregrine goes into its dive — also called a
‘stoop’² — is their bullet shaped bodies. Notice how the Peregrine tucks in its
feet and sweeps back its tail and wings. This streamlined figure reduces wind
turbulence, maximizes maneuverability, lift and speed as it cuts through the
air. It wouldn’t be able to do this nearly as efficiently if it had broad wings like a
hawk or an owl.

But the Peregrine’s wings are pointed and angled back and because of its stiff
unslotted feathers, it experiences less drag—the wind would pull on loose
feathers on other birds. Peregrines also have a large keel—-that’s this
breastbone. A bigger keel supports stronger chest muscles. Acute vision allows
them to spot prey a mile away.

The nictitating membrane or third-eyelid helps to maintain their vision in their

high-speed dives. And the secretory gland keeps their corneas from drying out
because of all that wind. But none of this would be possible if the peregrine
couldn’t breathe. The airspeeds the peregrine experience while diving would
make it impossible for most animals to breathe. But they have a bone in their
nostrils to slow down the airflow.
They also have robust hearts that beat around 600 to 900 beats per minute. All
birds have a vastly more efficient respiratory system than mammals. Then, to
finally catch her prey, the peregrine is pulling around 25 G’s coming out of a
stoop. Compare that to an F-16 fighter pilot who endures up to 9 G’s during
some maneuvers. On speed alone, peregrines are formidable birds of prey, but
it isn’t their only adaptation of note.

Footage from our friends at BBC Earth shows where this wanderer has made
its mark in some unexpected places. After a sharp recovery from near
extinction in North America, bustling cities with soaring skyscrapers and
towering cathedrals have become many peregrines’ new kingdom. A plentiful
hunting ground with high perches and deliciously plump pigeons.