Fast Falcons

 The peregrine falcon is the existing animal on the planet.

 Picture from All About Birds

 Peregrine falcons have been clocked at 242 miles per hour during their swooping dives and may be capable of reaching ever higher speeds.  It's speed is what allows the bird to capture prey much larger than itself.

The World's Fastest Fish

Any time you discuss the world’s fastest animals the cheetah comes to mind; and while its 70mph sprint speed does make it the fastest land animal, it’s easily bested in outright velocity by the peregrine falcon, which can reach over 200mph in dives.

However, if you look under the sea there’s another animal that can give even the cheetah a run for its money in speed: the sailfish. Sailfish are members of the Istiophoridae family that also includes marlins and spearfish. They can be most easily recognized by their large sail-like dorsal fins that can run the entire length of the back. Like other members of the family, sailfish have long snouts that resemble swords and can grow to nearly 10 feet in length.

Photo: National Geographic

Sailfish are very prized by sport fisherman and do not have any real natural enemies other than man. This most likely has to do with the fact that the sailfish can outrun just about any other creature in the ocean, reaching speeds of nearly 70mph.

The sail on the sailfish’s back usually stays folded down when swimming, but can be raised when excited or alarmed to make the fish appear larger than it actually is. Scientists have also observed the sail being used to “herd” together the schools of fish for easier feeding. Sailfish come in a very wide variety of colors and have the unique ability to change colors almost instantly, a technique used to confuse prey and communicate with other sailfish.

The Fastest Animal in the World (really)!

Most of us were taught growing up that the cheetah is the fastest animal that exists. While it is true that the cheetah is the fastest animal on earth, just a few thousand feet up, it’s a different story.

The peregrine falcon, a bird of prey common to most of the world, actually holds that title. The peregrine almost exclusively preys upon birds that it catches in mid-air. To hunt, it either perches or soars high above the ground scanning for birds. When prey is spotted, the falcon folds in its wings and feet to streamline itself, and begins a high-speed dive, called a stoop. In this dive, the falcon may reach speeds of over 200mph, usually stunning its prey by striking it with a closed talon.


Peregrine falcon in captivity. Photo: Carl Mueller

 Until recently, scientists were unsure just how fast peregrine falcons really went in their dives. In the below video by National Geographic, scientists were able to record one such dive where the falcon reached 242mph! And they may be able to go even faster…