The absolute record holder for flight speed among all birds is the peregrine falcon, which is common on all continents of the planet, except Antarctica. Depending on the intensity and characteristics of the color, ornithologists distinguish 17 subspecies of these falcons, but they all fly equally fast, outstripping even the black swifts.
Instructions
Step 1
According to the conducted studies of peregrine falcons in the wild and during their hunt, in a swift and diving flight, peregrine falcons can reach speeds of over 322 kilometers per hour, or about 90 meters per second. Usually, when hunting, the falcon hovers in the sky, and after finding the prey it rises directly above it and literally falls down almost at a right angle. Bird watchers also call this type of hunting by the phrase "place a bet". In the immediate vicinity of the victim, the peregrine falcon strikes it tangentially with its paws folded and firmly pressed to the body. Moreover, the bird makes its main "stake" on the powerful claws of the hind toes, which can deliver a very strong blow, from which instant death can occur even in large rodents.
Step 2
Sexual maturity in peregrine falcons occurs by the second year of life, and the formed pairs remain faithful throughout the life of the birds. Falcons nest on rocks, next to cliffs, less often on roofs or ledges of residential buildings. In modern cities, of course, it is almost impossible to find such birds, but in the Middle Ages it was quite common to meet peregrine falcons in European cities.
Step 3
This bird looks very proud and impressive. The body length of the falcon is about 35-55 centimeters with a wingspan of almost one and a half meters. Unlike other bird families, female peregrine falcons are usually much larger than males. This feature is typical for almost all falcons. The weight of the female is 900-1400 grams, and the male is 500-750 grams. They look the same, without any peculiarities in appearance depending on the sex of the birds.
Step 4
Over the past few centuries, the peregrine falcon is considered a rather rare bird, which, although it has a high adaptability to new landscapes and weather conditions, still simply does not have time to adapt to rapid climate changes and the invasion of the city to its usual habitats. For the first time, bird watchers began to sound the alarm in the second half of the 19th century, when the situation was significantly complicated by the beginning of the massive use of harmful pesticides in agriculture. In addition to the extinction of individual individuals, others have significantly reduced hatching of chicks, endangering the whole species. Currently, many varieties of cultivation products have already been banned, and scientists continue to fight for the preservation of peregrine falcons in forests, including Russian ones.
