![]() ![]() The reason for the fast speed of diving ducks is believed to be the development of strong chest muscles since they also use their wings when diving under the water to catch fish. Its streamlined body, powerful muscles and swept-back wing shape are perfect for fast flight. In contrast, non-diving ducks that get their food while floating on rivers and lakes, such as the Common Teal for example, have at present only been recorded flying at 70 km/h. The peregrine falcon is arguably the fastest bird in the sky. The Common Merganser can reach 130 km/h, the Common Pochard can go 128 km/h, and the Common Eider can achieve 122 km/h. Species of diving duck that live at sea and feed by diving beneath the surface of the water can also fly considerably fast. This is probably the fastest speed achieved by a duck species. Nowadays though, thanks to the miniaturization of GPS devices that can record the migration path and be easily attached to a bird's body, a large amount of data can be collected.Īmong such data is a record of the Spur-winged Goose of Africa flying at a speed of 143 km/h. ![]() Years ago, the flying speed of large duck species was measured by flying alongside them in a light aircraft like a Cessna plane. ![]() The fastest speed achieved by either the Peregrine Falcon or the Golden Eagle in horizontal flight is 110-130 km/h at best the average speed of the Peregrine Falcon is in the range of 70-90 km/h while the Golden Eagle is 40-50 km/h. However, raptors (such as hawks, falcons and owls) do not always fly at this speed. Although not as fast as the Peregrine Falcon, it has been recorded to reach 322 km/h. The speed of the Golden Eagle, which employs the same method of diving from a great height, has also been measured. To measure the speed of the Peregrine Falcon, researchers went up in an air balloon with a domesticated falcon and dropped prey from a high altitude, then clocked the speed as it stooped to chase the prey. So, the record of the Peregrine Falcon is for the high speed achieved when making a dive (stoop) to chase prey. The hunting technique of the Peregrine Falcon involves diving, striking, and then turning sharply to capture and carry off its prey. When attacking other birds, raptors such as the Peregrine Falcon make a high-speed dive from high altitude and utilize the weight of their body to strike the prey. ![]()
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