The fastest birds in the world
The top 3 according to 18 votes from people: Peregrine falcon · Mallard · Black stork. (Updated Jan 5, 2026.)
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?
Automatically translated (original in Español). See the original
Top 15
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1
Peregrine falcon
Over 380 km/h in a dive: the fastest animal on the planet.
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2
Mallard
A mallard riding a tailwind reached 166 km/h.
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3
Black stork
Recorded at over 110 km/h.
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4
Common swift
Confirmed record for powered flight: about 112 km/h.
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5
Spur-winged goose
The African goose flies at close to 100 km/h.
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6
Golden eagle
Glides at around 190 km/h and even faster in a dive.
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7
Gyrfalcon
The largest falcon, clocked at around 200 km/h in a dive.
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8
Whooper swan
Despite its size, it has been clocked at 160 km/h.
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9
Grey-headed albatross
Kept up 127 km/h for hours riding an Antarctic storm.
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10
Canvasback
North American duck that flies at 90 to 115 km/h.
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11
White-throated needletail
Credited with 169 km/h, though it has never been confirmed.
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12
Anna's hummingbird
In its courtship dive, the fastest for its size.
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13
Bar-tailed godwit
Flies more than 11,000 km non-stop from Alaska to New Zealand.
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14
Red-breasted merganser
This diving duck can fly at about 130 km/h.
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15
Saker falcon
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.
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