Month: September 2025

Have you ever seen a bird of prey fold its wings and dive toward the ground at an astonishing speed? How about a seabird effortlessly soaring on harsh winds above a crashing ocean? If you have, you know how truly impressive these birds are. If you’ve ever wondered how fast these birds actually fly, you’re in the right place. 

In this guide, you’ll meet the 15 fastest birds in the world, ranging from small falcons to dainty swifts to large birds of prey. There’s even some surprisingly bulky waterfowl you might not expect on this list. Let’s dive into it. 

The 15 Fastest Birds in the World 

1. Peregrine Falcon: Ranked #1 of the Fastest Birds in the World  

Top Dive Speed: 389 km/h (240 mph)

Average Horizontal Flight Speed: 40-55 km/h (25-34 mph)

At the top of the list of the fastest birds in the world sits none other than the impressive Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus). It is one of the most widespread birds of prey in the world—found across all continents except Antarctica. 

The Peregrine Falcon is built for speed. While hunting, it will soar high into the sky and then plummet at astonishing speeds to strike its prey in the air. 

2. Saker Falcon: Fastest Birds in Horizontal Flight 

Top Dive Speed: 320 km/h (200 mph) 

Top Horizontal Flight Speed: 150 km/h (90 mph) 

Saker Falcons (Falco cherrug) could compete with the Peregrine Falcon as the fastest bird in the world. If only their horizontal flight speed were compared, then this desert falcon would take first place.

These incredibly fast fliers are agile hunters of the desert and forest regions from Eastern Europe to Central Asia. Saker Falcons are listed as “Vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and illegal poaching.  

3. Golden Eagle: Elegant and Fierce Diver 

Top Dive Speed: 322 km/h (200 mph) 

Top Horizontal Flight Speed: 129 km/h (80 mph) 

The Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is one of the largest birds of prey in the world and the second largest in the United States. Despite its impressive size, it is one of the fastest birds in the world, with a breakneck dive speed. 

Golden Eagles are widespread, found in the wild, open land of North America, Europe, and Asia. While hunting, these large eagles will soar high in search of prey. Once spotted, they use their impressive dive speed to capture prey on the ground. 

4. Gyrfalcon: Fastest Falcon of the Arctic Tundra 

Top Dive Speed: 187-209 km/h (116-130 mph)

Top Horizontal Flight Speed: 145 km/h (90 mph)

The Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) is not only one of the fastest birds worldwide, but also the largest falcon in the world. These beautiful and agile hunters reside in the remote Arctic regions of Northern Canada and Alaska. 

Because their prey is typically large birds such as ptarmigans and waterfowl, Gyrfalcons use their remarkable diving speed to stun and kill them on impact. 

5. Red-tailed Hawk: Effortless Glider and Lethal Diver 

Top Dive Speed: 193 km/h (120 mph) 

Top Horizontal Flight Speed: 32-64 km/h (20-40 mph)

Because Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) are often seen soaring slowly in the open sky, they may not be the first bird you think of when considering the fastest birds in the world. And yet, they can be incredibly fast divers when needed.

As one of the most common birds of prey across North America, Red-tailed Hawks are easy to spot. If you’re lucky, you might see one diving through the sky at an impressive speed to catch a rodent or squirrel on the ground. 

6. White-throated Needletail: Fastest Birds in Long-distance Flight 

Top Dive Speed: N/A

Top Horizontal Flight Speed: 169 km/h (105 mph)

The White-throated Needletail (Hirundapus caudacutus) has an incredible horizontal speed that shows just how fast these large swifts are. This makes them one of the fastest birds in the world. In fact, they are the fastest birds in sustained flight as they migrate long distances each year between northern Asia and Australia. 

7. Common Swift: Master of the Air 

Top Dive Speed: 166 km/h (103 mph)

Top Horizontal Flight Speed: 111 km/h (69 mph)

Found from western Europe down to Northern Africa and over to Eastern Asia, the Common Swift (Apus apus) is a truly remarkable flier. As one of the fastest birds in the world, it spends the majority of its life in the air.  

Their agile swoops and quick dives allow them to catch a multitude of airborne insects. Besides hunting, Common Swifts also sleep and even mate while flying.

8. Bald Eagle: America’s Treasure  

Top Dive Speed: 160 km/h (100 mph)

Top Horizontal Flight Speed: 48 km/h (30 mph)

When a Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) spots a fish in the water, it needs to dive quickly to catch its prey successfully. As such, Bald Eagles can dive at exceptional speeds despite their large size. 

The beautiful and iconic Bald Eagle is found across North America, where it has been revered as a spiritual symbol by the Indigenous people for thousands of years. 

9. Eurasian Hobby: Small Falcon with Deadly, Airborne Precision

Top Dive Speed: 160 km/h (100 mph)

Top Horizontal Flight Speed: 160 km/h (100 mph)

The Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo) is a small falcon with extraordinary flying skills. This swift and agile hunter seizes its prey mid-flight while high in the air. Its preferred prey is dragonflies, but it also hunts other flying insects, small birds, and even bats. 

This long-winged falcon breeds across Europe and much of Asia and winters in Central and Southern Africa.  

10. Magnificent Frigatebird: A Bird True to Its Name  

Top Dive Speed: N/A

Top Horizontal Flight Speed: 153 km/h (95 mph) 

The Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) is a master of the ocean winds. It can soar at impressive speeds for days on end over the water. It rarely lands and will even steal food from other seabirds mid-air. 

Along with their impressive soaring abilities, the male Magnificent Frigatebird is also known for its striking red throat pouch. These fascinating seabirds are found along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of Mexico, extending down to South America. 

11. Spur-winged Goose: One of the Strongest, Fastest Birds in the World  

Top Dive Speed: N/A

Top Horizontal Flight Speed: 143 km/h (89 mph)

The Spur-winged Goose (Plectropterus gambensis) is Africa’s largest waterfowl. Despite its size, this formidable goose can reach outstanding speeds in flight. This is due to its strength and long, powerful wings, which propel it through the air as it migrates across Africa. 

12.Red-breasted Merganser: One of the Fastest Ducks in North America 

Top Dive Speed: N/A 

Top Horizontal Flight Speed: 130 km/h (81 mph)

Red-breasted Mergansers (Mergus serrator) can reach extraordinary speeds during their migratory flight across North America. As one of the fastest birds in the world, these medium-sized ducks with narrow wings fly high in the air in a structured V-formation or line. 

As diving birds, they swoop under the water to catch small fish and other prey. They breed near large inland lakes and wetlands in northern Canada and winter along the coast and Great Lakes of North America.   

13. Canvasback: A Bird of the Water  

Top Dive Speed: N/A

Top Horizontal Flight Speed: 128 km/h (80 mph)

Along with the Red-breasted Merganser, the Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) is one of North America’s fastest waterfowl. Once airborne, it can reach stunning speeds while migrating from Mexico and the southern United States to Canada and Alaska.  

Canvasbacks spend most of their lives on water. They sleep with their bill tucked beneath their wings and even nest on mats of floating vegetation. 

14. Grey-headed Albatross: Master of the Wind 

Top Dive Speed: N/A 

Top Horizontal Flight Speed: 127 km/h (79 mph)

The Grey-headed Albatross (Thalassarche chrysostoma) is one of the fastest birds in the world due to its ability to soar long distances on ocean winds. These large seabirds are found in the southern Antarctic and Subantarctic oceans, where they breed on islands such as South Georgia and the Diego Ramirez Islands.

Grey-headed Albatrosses are considered “Endangered” due to increased mortality rates from longline fisheries. 

15.Common Eider: One of the Fastest Birds of The Ocean Winds

Top Dive Speed: N/A

Top Horizontal Flight Speed: 123 km/h (76 mph)

As one of the largest ducks in the northern hemisphere, the Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) isn’t typically thought of as one of the fastest birds in the world. And it’s true that their speed doesn’t play a major role in their everyday life, which involves foraging offshore in large flocks. 

However, when they migrate to their winter range or shift feeding areas, they can soar at great speeds on ocean winds. Their large wings are adapted to navigate the harsh sea breeze, allowing them to travel quickly over the water. 

The Fastest Birds in the World 

From the unbelievably fast dive of the Peregrine Falcon to the impressive strength of the Spur-winged Goose, the fastest birds of the world showcase their incredible diversity of flight. These birds have adapted to utilize height and winds to their advantage, enabling them to soar long distances and spot prey from miles away. 

Have you ever seen one of these birds in flight? If so, feel free to share about your sighting or bird-watching experiences in the comments below! 

A black bird can easily blend into the night sky, making them trickier to spot than other birds. Yet, their feathers are sleek and intense, which is why they’re a sight to see. When admiring birds at any time of day, keep an eye out for ones with beautiful dark feathers. While they might not stand out as much as the most colorful birds, there’s still a wide variety of impressive black birds in North America.

Common Black Bird Species in North America

Below are a few of the black birds you may encounter across the continent. Many are solid black while some have other colors mixed in.

1. American Crow

• Scientific Name: Corvus brachyrhynchos
• Location: Fields and open woodlands across continental United States and Canada
• Size: 16 to 21 inches

American crows are solid black from beak to tail, and they often appear near humans. In the winter, they typically roost in large groups of hundreds or even thousands of birds. They’re highly intelligent animals that can make and use tools, such as sharpening wood to help them when foraging. Their sharp caw sound is very recognizable, and they can also mimic human words.

2. Common Raven

• Scientific Name: Corvus corax
• Location: Forests, deserts, and mountains across the Northern Hemisphere
• Size: 22 to 27 inches

Ravens have sleek black feathers and a dark black bill just like crows, but they’re much larger. Like American crows, common ravens are intelligent birds that have displayed problem-solving skills and mimicking abilities. They appear in a wide range of habitats across all of the Northern Hemisphere, which includes areas near people in North America. They’re agile fliers, so you might spot them spinning and rolling in the air.

3. Red-Winged Blackbird

• Scientific Name: Agelaius phoeniceus
• Location: Marshes and wetlands across North America and Central America
• Size: 7 to 9 inches

Male red-winged blackbirds have distinct coloring that features solid black feathers with a small red patch on the tops of their wings. Females have patterned brown feathers instead. You’ll often hear the males before you see them. They perch on top of tall plants in wetlands while making a loud “conk-la-ree” sound to attract a female.

4. Brewer’s Blackbird

• Scientific Name: Euphagus cyanocephalus
• Location: Grasslands, fields, and meadows across North America
• Size: 8 to 10 inches

Brewer’s blackbird is exactly what you’d expect from the term “blackbird.” The males of this species have solid black feathers, bills, and legs. Then, they have pale yellow eyes that contrast the rest of the coloring. Females have dull brown feathers rather than black. These black birds often create colonies of hundreds of birds when nesting. Their eggs have varying patterns to help them stay hidden.

5. Rusty Blackbird

• Scientific Name: Euphagus carolinus
• Location: Wetlands and wooded swamps across Canada and the eastern United States
• Size: 8 to 10 inches

During the breeding season, male rusty blackbirds have sleek black feathers. However, for the rest of the year, they have rust-colored patches among their black feathers. The females are always a light rust color everywhere except their wings, which appear darker. This black bird species primarily stays in areas near water, and they sometimes form small mixed-species flocks in the winter with other dark-colored birds like common grackles and red-winged blackbirds.

6. European Starling

• Scientific Name: Sturnus vulgaris
• Location: Urban, suburban, and agricultural areas across Europe, Asia, North Africa, and North America
• Size: 8 to 9 inches

European starlings are native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa, but they’re now common across North America as well. People released a group of these birds in North America in the 1980s, and they quickly reproduced and spread out since then. These birds have black feathers with white speckles, but their shiny plumage often has a purple or green tint to it depending on the lighting. While they’re beautiful birds, they often compete with native species and damage crops.

7. American Coot

• Scientific Name: Fulica americana
• Location: Lakes, ponds, and marshes across North America
• Size: 15 to 17 inches

The American coot is a waterfowl with solid black/dark gray feathers, a white bill, and red eyes. These birds don’t have webbed feet like ducks. Instead, they have broad lobes of skin on the ends of their long toes to help them swim. In shallow water, they can skim the surface for plant matter and insects, but in deep water, you might see them dive under in search of something to eat.

8. Great-Tailed Grackle

• Scientific Name: Quiscalus mexicanus
• Location: Open habitats near water from central United States to northern South America
• Size: 15 to 18 inches

The great-tailed grackle lives up to its name. The males of this black bird species have solid black feathers with large tails that stick upright. They show off their tail feathers to attract females, which are mostly dull brown in color. There are a lot more female great-tailed grackles than males because females are smaller and require less food. They typically forage for food on the ground, but they’re not afraid to wade in the water for food when needed.

9. Double-Crested Cormorant

• Scientific Name: Nannopterum auritum
• Location: Aquatic environments across North America
• Size: 28 to 35 inches long

If you’ve seen a black bird with its wings outstretched on the shore, you’ve likely seen a double-crested cormorant drying its wings. In addition to dark feathers, these birds also have bright orange bills and green eyes. They hunt by diving under the surface and swimming underwater. They have less preen oil than other waterbirds, which is why they spend a lot of time sunning on the shore after a swim.

10. Brown-Headed Cowbird

• Scientific Name: Molothrus ater
• Location: Fields, meadows, and forest edges across North America
• Size: 6 to 9 inches

Male brown-headed cowbirds have light brown heads, but the rest of their bodies are solid black. Females are mostly light brown, making it hard to distinguish them from other common birds. These birds don’t ever build their own nests. Instead, a female cowbird lays her eggs in the nest of another species, causing the other bird to raise the young cowbirds as their own. Because of this, brown-headed cowbirds typically mate with several birds in one season.

11. Phainopepla

• Scientific Name: Phainopepla nitens
• Location: Deserts of the southwestern United States and Mexico
• Size: 6 to 8 inches

This stunning bird species has sleek black feathers, a tall crest, and red eyes. The females are a lighter gray while the males are solid black. The name “Phainopepla” means “shining robe” in Greek as a reference to the bird’s beautiful feathers. These birds primarily eat mistletoe fruit, however, since the fruit is low in nutrients, they need to eat about 1,100 per day.

12. Groove-Billed Ani

• Scientific Name: Crotophaga sulcirostris
• Location: Open lowlands from southern United States to northern South America
• Size: 12 to 13 inches

The scruffy black feathers with shimmering edges make this bird stand out, but the bird’s bill is the most unique characteristic. These black birds have tall bills that are flat on the sides with small grooves. They use their weirdly-shaped bills to help them catch lizards and insects. They seem clumsy as they explore bushes, shrubs, and other plants, but they purposely use exaggerated movements to scare prey out into the open.

13. Fish Crow

• Scientific Name: Corvus ossifragus
• Location: Beaches, marshes, and lakes of the eastern United States
• Size: 14 to 16 inches

Fish crows appear like American crows due to their solid black plumage and pointed bills. However, they’re smaller and drawn to water. While they’ll eat just about anything they find, including carrion and garbage, they commonly eat crabs, marine invertebrates, and turtle eggs, which appear frequently in the fish crow’s habitat. Another way to tell fish crows apart from American crows is to listen to their calls. Fish crows make short nasally sounds and don’t mimic noises as often as other crows.

14. Tri-Colored Blackbird

• Scientific Name: Agelaius tricolor
• Location: Open habitats of the western United States
• Size: 7 to 9 inches

Tri-colored blackbirds look a lot like red-winged blackbirds, but they have a white stripe beneath their red patch instead of a yellow one. They’re extremely social birds, forming breeding colonies with thousands of birds. One tri-colored blackbird colony in the 1930s included 300,000 birds and covered 59 acres. That’s more than the entire species population today.

15. Hill Myna

• Scientific Name: Gracula religiosa
• Location: Jungles and forests of southern Asia and parts of North America
• Size: 10 to 12 inches

Even though hill mynas naturally live in Asia, you might occasionally see them in North America, especially Hawaii and Florida. People released them because of the pet trade, and now they’ve grown their populations in warm states. This black bird’s popularity comes from the hill myna’s ability to mimic up to 100 human words. Plus, they have an iconic look with sleek black feathers, bright orange bills, and yellow wattles.

See if You Can Identify Types of Black Bird in North America

Now that you know some iconic black bird species in North America, keep an eye out for these feathered friends. They appear in all types of habitats, including marshes, deserts, and even backyards. So, next time you spot one, see if you can identify the exact species