A peregrine falcon folds its wings and dives onto its prey. What is the highest speed recorded in such a dive, in kilometres per hour?
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Answer
About 390 km/h
Small bony cones inside the falcon's nostrils are thought to help it breathe at that speed. Jet engine designers use a similar shape in air intakes.
How to estimate it
The record itself was measured, but physics gives the scale. A skydiver falling flat reaches about 200 km/h, and one diving head first in a tight posture exceeds 300 km/h. A falcon with folded wings is even more streamlined and compact for its weight, so it should match or beat the best human dive. Guess 300 to 350 km/h. The highest recorded speed is about 390 km/h.
Source: Guinness World Records; National Geographic
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