Animal Behavior

Behavior of Animals in Motion

How fast do some birds fly?

Hummingbirds fly at speeds up to 71 mph (114 kph). Small species beat their wings fifty to eighty times per second, and higher in courtship displays. The following lists some birds and their fastest flights:

Bird

Speed (miles per hour)

Speed (kilometers per hour)

Peregrine falcon

168–217

270.3–349.1

Swift

105.6

169.9

Merganser

  65

104.6

Golden plover

  50–70

  80.5–112.6

Mallard

  40.6

  65.3

Wandering albatross

  33.6

  54.1

Carrion crow

  31.3

  50.4

Herring gull

  22.3–24.6

  35.9–39.6

House sparrow

  17.9–31.3

  28.8–50.4

Woodcock

    5

    8



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