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The Peregrine Falcon is the Fastest Animal in the World

The Peregrine Falcon is the Fastest Animal in the World

What We’re Showing

The top speeds of the fastest flying animals in miles-per-hour (mph) for both diving/stooping and horizontal flight. The data is compiled by Fact Animal from various academic sources and includes the fastest reliably recorded speeds for each animal. 

Key Takeaways

  • When diving, the peregrine falcon is the fastest animal in the world with a staggering top speed of 242 mph. To put that into context, the fastest car in the world recorded a top speed of 330 mph.
  • The peregrine falcon also ranks 7th in terms of fastest air animals in horizontal flight.
  • The three fastest air animals on the planet, when diving, are all birds of prey. The peregrine falcon, golden eagle and saker falcon have renowned aerial hunting abilities, including high-speed dives or stoops to capture prey in flight.
The Peregrine Falcon is the Fastest Animal in the World - Voronoi