# The fastest birds in the world

Diving, gliding or flapping: the birds with the highest speeds ever measured or recorded. The peregrine falcon is king, but which one impresses you most?

- 18 votes · 15 items
- Jan 5, 2026 · laura_zaragoza
- https://even.best/en/l/2195/the-fastest-birds-in-the-world

## Top 15

1. **Peregrine falcon** (2 · ▲2 ▼0) — Over 380 km/h in a dive: the fastest animal on the planet.
2. **Mallard** (2 · ▲2 ▼0) — A mallard riding a tailwind reached 166 km/h.
3. **Black stork** (2 · ▲2 ▼0) — Recorded at over 110 km/h.
4. **Common swift** (2 · ▲2 ▼0) — Confirmed record for powered flight: about 112 km/h.
5. **Spur-winged goose** (2 · ▲2 ▼0) — The African goose flies at close to 100 km/h.
6. **Golden eagle** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — Glides at around 190 km/h and even faster in a dive.
7. **Gyrfalcon** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — The largest falcon, clocked at around 200 km/h in a dive.
8. **Whooper swan** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — Despite its size, it has been clocked at 160 km/h.
9. **Grey-headed albatross** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — Kept up 127 km/h for hours riding an Antarctic storm.
10. **Canvasback** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — North American duck that flies at 90 to 115 km/h.
11. **White-throated needletail** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — Credited with 169 km/h, though it has never been confirmed.
12. **Anna's hummingbird** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — In its courtship dive, the fastest for its size.
13. **Bar-tailed godwit** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — Flies more than 11,000 km non-stop from Alaska to New Zealand.
14. **Red-breasted merganser** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — This diving duck can fly at about 130 km/h.
15. **Saker falcon** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — A steppe raptor that tops 110 km/h in level flight.

How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.