Best Guide about Fastest Falcon of the World
Peregrine Falcon Speed
Whenever we talk about fast animals, our attention immediately goes to the cheetah that can run at a speed of 70 miles per hour, or we think of some fast fish in the sea. But the truth is that the real king of speed neither runs on land nor swims in water, but rather swoops down from the sky. The Peregrine Falcon is not only the fastest bird, but also the fastest animal in the entire world.
1. Normal Flight
When this falcon is normally flying straight through the sky or circling its territory, its speed is normal. It flies at about 40 to 55 miles per hour (64 to 89 kilometers per hour). If it is chasing prey, this speed can go up to 69 mph. That is fast, but it is not a World record. Even Pigeons sometimes show such speed.
2. The Stoop – meaning “dive”
The real magic begins when it hunts. This is called the “stoop”. What happens is that the falcon goes very high, looks down at its prey (such as a pigeon or duck), and then presses its wings tightly to its body to reduce air pressure.
3. Speed of the Falcons
- General: Scientists believe that it can easily reach speeds of 200 miles per hour (320 kilometers) while diving.
- Record: The highest speed ever recorded is 242 miles per hour (389 kilometers)! This record is called “Frightful”.
Missile-like structure: How does it withstand such speed?
If a person falls at a speed of 200 miles per hour without a protective suit, his fate will be very terrible. The air pressure will stop his breathing, his eyes will be damaged and he will start spinning uncontrollably in the air. But the case of the Peregrine Falcon is different. Nature has designed every part of its body in such a way that it can easily withstand this stormy speed. Let’s see how.
1. Bullet-like shape
The first thing is its shape. When it stoops, it does not just flap its wings but also changes its shape. In this way, it becomes like a drop of water or a bullet. It is the best shape in the world for cutting through the air. Because of this, the wind does not stop it and gravity pulls it down quickly.
2. Respiratory system: How do you breathe at a speed of 200?
This is the most surprising thing. Just think if you stick your head out of a car moving at a speed of 60 miles, it becomes difficult to breathe. Now think what will happen at a speed of 240 miles? If such fast air enters the lungs, they can burst.
The falcon has a natural solution to this, which is like a jet engine. There are small conical bones inside its nostrils. These bones act as “speed breakers“. When strong air enters the nose, these bones reduce the speed of the air so that the air enters the lungs with the appropriate pressure and does not harm them.
3. Natural glasses
It is impossible to keep your eyes open at such a high speed, the air will dry out your eyes and there is also a fear of dust getting in.
The falcon’s eyes have a special “third eyelid” (nictitating membrane). Unlike our eyelids, it is transparent like glass. When the falcon dives, this membrane comes over the eye. It works like “built-in goggles”. This keeps the eye moist, keeps out dust, but the falcon can see its prey very clearly.
4. Dealing with extreme pressure
When it dives at a speed of 200 mph and then suddenly turns or stops, the body is subjected to very intense pressure called “G-Force”. Fighter pilots wear special suits to withstand such pressure, otherwise they may lose consciousness. But the structure and circulatory system of the sea falcon are naturally so strong that it can easily withstand even the pressure (25 Gs) that can be fatal to humans.
Prediction
The falcon hunts other birds. If it were to run straight after a healthy pigeon, it would have to chase it for a very long time, it would be exhausted and it might not even catch the prey. Therefore, it attacks “in ambush”. It takes advantage of gravity from the height. In this way, it does not have to exert itself, but rather gets dangerous speed for free due to falling from a height.
World’s Fastest Animals Competition
- Sea Hawk: The Top Speed is 242 mph.
- Bugatti Chiron: The Top Speed is 261 mph.
- Commercial Jet: The Top Speed is 550 mph.
- Golden Eagle: The Top Speed is Around 150-200 mph.
- Cheetah: The Top Speed is 70 mph.
- Sailfish: The Top Speed is 68 mph.
- Common Swift: The Top Speed is 69 mph.
Conclusion
The speed of Peregrine Falcon is 242 miles per hour. But knowing just this number is not enough. The real miracle is not just its speed, but the way nature has designed its body to withstand such speeds. The system of bones inside its nose that works like a jet engine, the natural lenses of its eyes, and the special shape of its body that has developed over millions of years. Understand that this is a “fighter jet” made by nature, which is the king of speed and gravity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Question: What is its highest recorded speed?
Answer: The highest recorded speed ever is 242 miles per hour (389 kilometers). This was recorded by a pet falcon “Frightful”. By the way, wild falcons can easily reach a speed of 200 miles per hour while hunting.
Question: Is it faster than a leopard?
Answer: Yes, much faster! When a leopard runs at full speed, it can reach a speed of 70 miles per hour. While a sea falcon can go over 200 miles. That is, it is almost three times faster than a leopard.
Question: Does it fly this fast all the time?
Answer: No, this dangerous speed only occurs when it “stoops” from a height. Usually, when it is flying straight, its speed is 40 to 55 miles per hour.
Question: Why doesn’t it die by hitting its prey at such a speed?
Answer: It never comes at full speed and grabs its prey. It just makes a “fist” of its claws while passing by and hits the prey hard. This impact is so severe that the prey becomes unconscious or dies on the spot, then the falcon turns around and grabs it. If it tries to grab it with a direct claw at a speed of 200, its own legs will break.
Question: Which is the second fastest animal?
Answer: If we talk about diving, the “Golden Eagle” is considered to be in second place, which can go up to about 200 miles, but it is slower than the falcon. Among the birds that fly straight is the “Needletail”, it is considered very fast.
Question: Where can I see sea falcons?
Answer: Except for Antarctica (the icy continent), they are found on every continent in the world. They build nests on mountain cliffs, but the interesting thing is that now they have also started living in big cities. Keep an eye on the edges of tall buildings, bridges, or towers — you might see traffic moving below and the world’s fastest animal perched above.
