Top Fastest Animals in the Sky

Brazilian Tailless Bats: 160 km/h

Top Fastest Animals in the Sky

The fastest flying animal on record is not a bird but a mammal. A 2016 study published in the Royal journal Science showed that the Brazilian tailless bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) flies at a speed of 44.5 meters per second, or 160 kilometers per hour. The study tracked female bats weighing about 11 to 12 grams with drones as they emerged from a bat cave in Texas, USA. This makes the bat faster than any bird or bat that has been recorded before, when it comes to horizontal flight velocity.

Brazilian tailless bats are not only found in Brazil. They range from Argentina and Chile in South America, through Central America and into the United States, including Oregon and Ohio, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Service, tiny bats tend to co-sleep in large numbers at a few locations, which makes them vulnerable to human disturbance and habitat destruction.

- Related: 10 fastest land animals

Golden Eagle: 322 km/h

Top Fastest Animals in the Sky

The golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is one of the largest birds in North America, with a wingspan of more than 220 centimeters. They fly fast despite their large size, their normal flight speed is 45 to 52 km/h, but their maximum speed is achieved when diving. They can launch through the air at speeds of nearly 322 km/h when descending from great heights, according to the Cornell Laboratory of Cornell University in New York. Golden eagles follow their prey, as well as in courtship and play rituals. Their habitat range spans the Northern Hemisphere, including North America, Europe, Africa and Asia, according to the IUCN.

Peregrine Falcon: 354 km/h

Top Fastest Animals in the Sky

The Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) is the fastest animal in the world and can reach speeds of up to 354 km/h when plunging as they hunt other birds. Their typical flight speed is between 64 and 97 km/h. According to Boston University, the bodies of these falcons are adapted to high speeds thanks to their pointed, elongated wings, strong muscular sternum, and stiff feathers that help reduce drag. According to the National Wildlife Federation, the Peregrine Falcon can be found all over the world and on every continent except Antarctica.

- Related: 10 fastest land animals