Which bird flies the fastest? Records among birds

The average flight speed of birds is 40-60 kilometers per hour. Which bird flies the fastest? It is not so easy to answer this question - in fact, it is difficult to detect the time that the birds spend to overcome a given path, and the scientists' data differ from each other. However, all sources agree that no other bird, like an animal, can overtake peregrine falcon. During the hunting and defense this predator gains speed exceeding 300 km / h!

Characteristic features

Peregrine Falcon is a bird of the falcon family. There are 18 species that differ from each other in color and habitat. Predator comparable size with a crow, its length is on average 50 cm. The wingspan is more than a meter. Powerful chest with pronounced muscles, strong fingers with rounded thick claws, a short, curved beak. The ends of the long tail and wings are sharp, which allows the bird to deftly maneuver. The back, wings and head of the bird are dark, the belly is light. A characteristic external difference is the dark stripes near the beak that resemble a mustache.

The females reach 1.5 kg of weight and are much larger than the representatives of the strong half. The weight of males does not exceed 800 g. There are no differences in coloring in gynecological representatives of this species. Peregrine falconry is difficult to call a bird of singers. Usually the sharp and loud voice of a predator can be heard during the mating season or serious anxiety.

How fast is the fastest bird flying ? The usual speed of Peregrine Falcon is limited to an average of 130 km / h. During the attack on the extraction or protection of its territory, the predator dives at a speed of about 330 km / h.

Habitat

Falcon is undemanding to climatic conditions, therefore the area of its distribution is limited only to Antarctica. It occurs both in the hot tropics and in cold regions. In conditions of wild nature, Peregrine Falcons nest in places inaccessible to humans. Especially he likes rocky and mountainous terrain.

In forest thickets predator prefers to settle in hollows of trees or high above the earth, evicting from the habitation of previous inhabitants. An important condition for survival of the Peregrine Falcons is the presence of a pond near the nest. Some individuals prefer urban conditions. So, in the USA, peregrins settle on the roofs of cathedrals and high-rise buildings.

To date, there are about 5,000 individuals in Russia, which is relatively less than a few dozen years ago. Therefore, the Red Book bird is protected by the state.

Lifestyle

Answering the question which bird flies the fastest, ornithologists began to study the way of life of the record-holders, thanks to which a curious philistine can learn many interesting facts about the life of the Peregrine Falcons. It turns out that these predators are real conservatives!

Falcons lead a sedentary lifestyle. Their territories are inherited and belong to the same family for several generations. It is curious that from their fellow Sapsans prefer to nest at a considerable distance - about 2-5 km. Own possession birds protect aggressively and actively, fearlessly attacking even such large enemies as the eagle or the gray crow. When a person appears, predators behave restlessly, circling overhead, loudly screaming.

Feathered monogamous. Their pairs are formed for several years. The female lays eggs once a year and incubates them together with the future father of the family. Hatched chicks are absolutely helpless. They can fly only a month and a half after the birth.

Food

Most small birds know firsthand which bird flies faster and ruthlessly attacks, because they make up most of the diet of peregrine falcon. Since the winged predator hunts usually in flight, its prey becomes sparrows, pigeons, larks, thrushes. However, the predator does not disdain mammals: hares, mice, hamsters, squirrels. Sometimes he can eat even insects or frogs.

Peregrine fowl hunt in pairs. Discovering the prey, the predator is rapidly gaining altitude and falls on the victim. At this moment, he gains maximum speed. The blow is so strong that often the falconry trot falls apart.

The catch of the feather brings to the nest, where it is dealt with. Unlike most other predators, the falcon eats only the trunk of the prey. Over time, around the nests of Peregrine Falcons accumulate numerous bone remains of the victims.

Bird records

Ornithologists managed not only to find out which bird flies the fastest, but also to reveal the fastest flying bird. They were an ostrich, which speeds up to 70 km / h, despite its impressive size and considerable weight.

A famous diver is a penguin. In addition, the inhabitant of Antarctica is able to compete with the best swimmers - in the water a clumsy and awkward polar inhabitant gathers speed up to 30 km / h.

Which bird flies faster and above all? There is no single answer to this question. Usually the top of all take off the predators, since from the height it is more convenient to look out for the victim. There are cases when migratory birds rose so high that they collided with airliners. Among them were migrating swans and seine (griffin).

Which bird flies the fastest on a horizontal trajectory? Here the leading position is swift. Its speed reaches 140 km / h, while the Peregrine Falcon traverses in the period of calmness no faster than 70 km / h.