Sometimes, the most dominant, powerful predators on Earth are the fastest animals. Sometimes they are as modest as a domestic pigeon or the fastest hummingbird in the world.
For a number of purposes, including to avoid predators, pursue prey, or impress potential partners, animals have evolved to travel at peak speeds. Whatever the cause, each of the 15 fastest animals on our list is amazingly quick—and some of them may be a little closer to you than you might think!
Cheetah
Peregrine Falcon
In order to grab their food, peregrine falcons must dive from the air, and it is during this risky maneuver that they attain their highest speeds. Other birds are consumed by peregrines, who knock them out of the air and eat them on the ground.
Despite being present on all six continents, peregrine falcons are rarely seen by people due to population reduction. They frequently have lifelong partners and have a nearly 20-year lifespan in the wild.
Golden Eagle
With a height of up to 3 feet and weights ranging from 6 to 14 pounds, golden eagles are similar in size to bald eagles. They frequently kill prey the size of a crane or fox. Golden eagles dive to catch their prey in their razor-sharp talons from lofty perches. Like other eagles, golden eagles have excellent vision and can turn their heads 270 degrees to easily detect their prey. They do, however, have inferior night vision, comparable to that of a human.
White-Throated Needletail Swift
Swifts with white throats soar through the air in search of the insects they enjoy to eat. Their bodies are formed like bullets, and their long, curved wings are made to help them fly quickly.
These birds create their nests in tree trunks that have been hollowed out or in cracks between boulders. These birds migrate, breeding in Central Asia and spending the winter in Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and Australia.
Mexican Free-Tailed Bat
The Mexican free-tailed bats spend their nights hunting moths and other nocturnal insects. They can roost in colonies of up to 20 million individuals. An estimated 250 tons of insects are consumed each night in the greatest free-tailed bat roosts, according to research.
Mexican free-tailed bats grab these insects out of the air while avoiding predators like raccoons, cats, and owls by moving at incredible speeds. They only grow to be around 3.5 inches long and can live up to 18 years. They don’t even add up to an ounce.
Rock Dove
The common pigeon is another name for the rock dove. Yes, those are the identical pigeons that you can encounter on the streets near your house.
Rock doves can dwell in colonies of up to 500 birds. They consume both plants, berries, and seeds as well as insects and spiders because they are omnivorous. However, you may have noticed that rock doves in your area aren’t particularly fussy. They also consume garbage- or street-side-found food.
The fastest land mammal is the cheetah. They can sprint from 0 to 45 miles per hour in 2.5 seconds and cover 23 feet in a single step. Their top speed, though, can only be held for around 300 yards at a time.
In order to accommodate their wider nasal passageways, which are necessary for the enormous air intakes cheetahs need to achieve their fast speeds, cheetahs have smaller teeth than other big cats.
Cheetah
The fastest land mammal is the cheetah. They can sprint from 0 to 45 miles per hour in 2.5 seconds and cover 23 feet in a single step. Their top speed, though, can only be held for around 300 yards at a time.
In order to accommodate their wider nasal passageways, which are necessary for the enormous air intakes cheetahs need to achieve their fast speeds, cheetahs have smaller teeth than other big cats.
Sailfish
The fastest marine animal is the sailfish. In their first year of existence, they can grow up to 5 feet long because to their quick growth.
They can be identified by the tall, vivid fin that extends from their back and pierces the water’s surface. When swimming, sailfish usually maintain these sails folded, which helps them travel through the water more quickly.
Anna’s Hummingbird
Although Anna’s hummingbirds are said to be very stocky for hummingbirds, their size doesn’t diminish their amazing speed. Male Anna’s hummingbirds have bright pink throat feathers that give them a recognizable pop of color. These birds thrive in a range of settings and are frequent visitors at hummingbird feeders.
