This is a list of the average and fastest flight speeds achieved by birds. A bird's velocity is necessarily variable; a hunting bird will reach much greater speeds while diving to catch prey than when flying horizontally. The bird that can achieve the greatest speed is the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), able to exceed in its dives. A close relative of the common swift, the white-throated needletail (Hirundapus caudacutus), is commonly reported as the fastest bird in level flight with a reported top speed of . This record remains unconfirmed as the measurement methods have never been published or verified. The record for the fastest confirmed level flight by a bird is held by the common swift.
Anecdotal, unverifiable records are frequently reported for bird species. Moreover, providing single, comparable flight speeds across Aves is extremely difficult, if not impossible: the value of any given measurement is subject to variation from 1) measurement tools; 2) the influence of wind and climatic conditions at the time of measurement; 3) the bird's lift, drag, and body position; 4) variation in a species' flight behaviour at time of measurement (e.g., normal locomotion, escape, migration); and 5) whether the bird is flapping or gliding, among others.
Some values given for the horizontal speed of a bird are airspeed, or the velocity of its movement relative to the air (i.e., accounting for wind speed). Others are the bird's groundspeed, or the velocity of a bird relative to a fixed point on the ground. Birds riding a strong tailwind will have much higher groundspeeds than any airspeed they could achieve under their own power (e.g., the mallard flight speed record).
For these reasons, values given in this table are generally not appropriate to make comparisons between species.
Birds by flying speed Common nameImageSpeciesFamilyAverage horizontal speedMaximum horizontal speedMaximum speedRemarksPeregrine falconFalco peregrinusFalconidaeMaximum speed is achieved via a streamlined, freefall dive from high altitudes. Self-powered horizontal flight can reach ~ , but has been measured at up to when pulling out of a dive.GyrfalconFalco rusticolusFalconidaeGolden eagleAquila chrysaetosAccipitridaeMaximum reported horizontal speed is the purported maximum of the species' gliding flight; the species can likely reach higher speeds in dives, though reported values of are "unlikely in most, if not all, situations".MallardAnas platyrhynchosAnatidaeMaximum reported speed was assisted by large tailwind.Red-breasted merganserMergus serratorAnatidaeGrey-headed albatrossThalassarche chrysostomaDiomedeidaeSustained reported horizontal speed (ground speed) for approximately nine hours with no rest on high tailwinds during an Antarctic storm. wingspan allows for high power use from wind.Saker falconFalco cherrugFalconidaeFlight speed is sometimes reported as up to , though the speed of their dives do not appear to have ever been formally measured.Common swiftApus apusApodidaeThis species holds the record for fastest recorded flight by a bird under its own power (e.g., not assisted by wind or gravity).White-throated needletailHirundapus caudacutusApodidaeAn early report gave an estimated flight speed in excess of , though this was not measured via any instruments and has not been observed since. Difficulties in human estimation of speed and altitude, especially in a moving vehicle, are well-known in relation to these swifts; nevertheless, unconfirmed maximum speed values for this species are still frequently reported.Spur-winged goosePlectropterus gambensisAnatidaeapprox. Great snipeGallinago mediaScolopacidaeOn 4,300–6,800 km non-stop autumn migration direct from Sweden to tropical Africa.Eurasian whimbrelNumenius phaeopusScolopacidaeOn 4,000–5,500 km non-stop autumn migration direct from Iceland to West Africa.CanvasbackAythya valisineriaAnatidaeCommon eiderSomateria mollissimaAnatidaeWhooper swanCygnus cygnusAnatidae (see Remarks, right)Flying time on migration from Iceland to Ireland (1,100 km) on 9 December 1967 of an estimated 7 hours, making use of a northerly jet stream wind at 8,200 m altitude in the lower stratosphere for part of the distance (where tolerating a temperature of -48°C, and air pressure only one third of surface pressure).Bar-tailed godwitLimosa lapponicaScolopacidaeBird tagged 'E7' flew 11,680 km non-stop from Alaska to New Zealand in 8.1 days.Black storkCiconia nigraCiconiidae Anna's hummingbirdCalypte annaTrochilidaeMaximum speed was measured from a courtship dive, made possible by their extremely low drag.Magnificent frigatebirdFregata magnificensFregatidaeEurasian hobbyFalco subbuteoFalconidae
See also List of birds by flight heights
Note
References
External links
The world's fastest birds The Travel Almanac What Are The Fastest Flying Birds? Blur it