Why is this bird called the "Fighter Jet with Feathers"?

With speeds reaching up to 322 km/h, the Peregrine Falcon is the fastest animal on the planet. After witnessing this bird’s lightning-fast maneuvers in the air, you will understand why it is often referred to as the “feathered fighter jet.”

The Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) is a member of the falcon genus, found almost everywhere in the world, including the Arctic tundra, with the largest populations in North America. In fact, the Peregrine Falcon is the fastest creature on Earth, not the eagle or the cheetah. Experts estimate that this bird reaches its highest speeds during its dives, exceeding 322 km/h.

The Peregrine Falcon has an adult body length ranging from 34-58 cm.

In terms of morphology, the adult Peregrine Falcon measures between 34-58 cm in length, with a wingspan of 74-120 cm. Male Peregrine Falcons can weigh up to 750 grams, while females are typically 30% larger than males. Like other birds of prey, the Peregrine Falcon has three eyelids. Two of these eyelids are for opening and closing the eyes, while the third eyelid serves only to blink, keeping the eyes moist and removing debris. Notably, this third eyelid is translucent, allowing the falcon to see even when it’s closed.

The Peregrine Falcon possesses a translucent third eyelid specifically for blinking.

With its relatively small body size and superlative attack speed, any medium to small bird can become a meal for this predator. In fact, the Peregrine Falcon sometimes hunts small mammals and reptiles as well.

The downside of flying at high speeds is that air pressure is extremely high. Therefore, the Peregrine Falcon has a structure in its nasal cavity that slows down the airflow entering its lungs. We can observe a similar mechanism in jet aircraft.

The hunting ability of the Peregrine Falcon is most evident when its target is a bird flying in the air. With its extremely rapid dive, the Peregrine Falcon strikes its prey with a force akin to a “heavenly blow.”

It’s important to note that the Peregrine Falcon strikes its prey with its eight razor-sharp talons. Typically, this attack will stun the prey, causing it to die upon hitting the ground. If the prey survives this initial strike, the Peregrine Falcon uses a secret weapon known as the “killing tooth,” which is actually the hook on its beak, to bite through the victim’s neck.

The Peregrine Falcon is a very loyal species.

Despite being a cold-blooded killer, the Peregrine Falcon is known for its loyalty. After reaching sexual maturity (which typically takes about a year), the male and female will mate for life, nesting in a cavity on a cliff face.

Due to the impact of DDT pesticide use in agriculture, the Peregrine Falcon was considered endangered for a long time. Fortunately, since the early 1970s, the use of DDT has been banned, allowing the population of Peregrine Falcons to recover significantly. Additionally, efforts from wildlife protection organizations worldwide have also contributed to their resurgence.

According to the Guinness World Records, tests have shown that Peregrine Falcons can even reach speeds up to 389 km/h. Furthermore, in a series of dives in 1999, a Peregrine Falcon named Frightful, owned by pilot Ken Franklin in Friday Harbor, Washington, set a world record after being released from an altitude of 5,182 meters above sea level. This 6-year-old falcon measured 40.6 cm in length and weighed 1 kg, with a wingspan of about 104 cm.

To measure Frightful’s speed, pilot Franklin attached a 113.4-gram computer chip to its tail feathers. He then measured how far the falcon dove in a certain timeframe.

Additionally, Franklin and a cameraman wore altitude measuring devices as they parachuted alongside Frightful. The data collected from all devices was compared after the flight.