The fastest animal on Earth dives at 240 miles per hour
This bird hits 240 miles per hour in a dive — faster than a Formula 1 car.
The short version
The peregrine falcon is the fastest animal on the planet. In its hunting stoop it folds its wings and plummets at over 240 mph, striking prey midair with a closed foot. Cone-shaped baffles in its nostrils slow the rushing air so the pressure doesn't burst its lungs.
Why it's so weird
- ✓The Peregrine Falcon dives at over 240 miles per hour, making it the fastest animal on the planet.
- ✓The Peregrine Falcon folds its wings into a teardrop shape and drops out of the sky in a hunting move called the stoop.
- ✓The Peregrine Falcon has tiny cone-shaped baffles inside its nostrils that slow the rushing air so the pressure doesn't burst its lungs.
- ✓The Peregrine Falcon strikes prey midair with a closed foot like a knockout punch, often killing it instantly.
- ✓The Peregrine Falcon can spot a pigeon from over a mile away and keeps a third eyelid wiping its eyes clean so it never loses sight of the target.
The full story
This bird dives at 240 miles per hour — faster than a Formula 1 car at full throttle. Meet the peregrine falcon, the fastest animal on the entire planet. When it spots a target, it folds its wings into a teardrop shape and drops out of the sky in what is called a stoop. At that speed, the air rushing in should burst its lungs, so it has tiny cone-shaped baffles inside its nostrils that slow the air down before it hits. It strikes its prey midair with a closed foot, like a punch, knocking it out instantly. A special third eyelid keeps wiping its eyes clean so it never loses sight of the target. Its eyesight is so sharp it can spot a pigeon from over a mile away. Nothing on Earth moves faster. Follow for more weird animal facts.
Watch the 45-second version
Peregrine Falcon gallery
