Birds · Ranked by top speed

Fastest Ducks and Sea Ducks (2026)

Ducks and sea ducks fill most of the level-flight list. This view keeps only the family Anatidae, with the same radar figures as the full bird ranking.

11 rankedA source on every row

Post

A view of Fastest BirdsFamilyAnatidae

11 ducks, ties share a rank.

1
Common pochard
Aythya ferina
85.0km/h52.8mph23.6m/s45.9kn2.3× Bolt
VerifiedPLOS Biology (opens source in a new tab)
2
Common scoter
Melanitta nigra
79.6km/h49.4mph22.1m/s43.0kn2.1× Bolt
VerifiedPLOS Biology (opens source in a new tab)
3
Long-tailed duck
Clangula hyemalis
79.2km/h49.2mph22m/s42.8kn2.1× Bolt
VerifiedPLOS Biology (opens source in a new tab)
4
Steller's eider
Polysticta stelleri
78.8km/h49.0mph21.9m/s42.6kn2.1× Bolt
VerifiedPLOS Biology (opens source in a new tab)
5
Greater scaup
Aythya marila
76.7km/h47.6mph21.3m/s41.4kn2.0× Bolt
VerifiedPLOS Biology (opens source in a new tab)
6
Tufted duck
Aythya fuligula
76.0km/h47.2mph21.1m/s41.0kn2.0× Bolt
VerifiedPLOS Biology (opens source in a new tab)
Tied for 7th
Eurasian wigeon
Anas penelope
74.2km/h46.1mph20.6m/s40.0kn2.0× Bolt
VerifiedPLOS Biology (opens source in a new tab)
Tied for 7th
Northern pintail
Anas acuta
74.2km/h46.1mph20.6m/s40.0kn2.0× Bolt
VerifiedPLOS Biology (opens source in a new tab)
9
Common goldeneye
Bucephala clangula
73.1km/h45.4mph20.3m/s39.5kn1.9× Bolt
VerifiedPLOS Biology (opens source in a new tab)
10
Velvet scoter
Melanitta fusca
72.4km/h45.0mph20.1m/s39.1kn1.9× Bolt
VerifiedPLOS Biology (opens source in a new tab)
11
Red-breasted merganser
Mergus serrator
72.0km/h44.7mph20m/s38.9kn1.9× Bolt
VerifiedPLOS Biology (opens source in a new tab)

How we measure

Top speed

The ranked bird speed is the best-supported measured value we could read, and the conditions line says whether it is a stoop interval, a glide mean, or level flapping flight.

The peregrine rank is Alerstam's 39 m/s maximum of 10-second radar intervals during stoops, not the claimed 389 km/h experimental dive.
Level-flight rows are mean equivalent airspeed from Protocol S1 of Alerstam et al. 2007. A mean is not a peak, and the sample size is in the conditions.
The goshawk is estimated because the 1987 paper says the stoop was close to 30 m/s.
The golden eagle rank is Katzner's 18.07 m/s mean ground speed while gliding, not an unsourced dive claim.

What the labels mean

Official: Ratified by a governing body such as the FIA, World Athletics or Guinness World Records.
Verified: Independently measured and published, for example in a peer-reviewed study or with certified timing.
Claimed: Stated by a manufacturer, owner or publication without independent timing.
Estimated: Calculated or approximated rather than directly timed.
Disputed: Contested by experts or contradicted by other evidence.

How we verify every figure

Speed race

See the top two side by side at true relative speed, over 100 m or any distance.

Race #1 vs #2

Top speed · sourced

Birds, by how they fly

A stoop and a flap are different feats. Compare like with like.

Birds · Top speed
Sourced
Fastest stoop dives
Gravity-assisted stoops. Not comparable with flapping flight.
1. 1Peregrine falcon140km/h87.2mph39m/s75.8kn
2. 2Northern goshawk108km/h67.1mph30m/s58.3kn
2 birds
Birds · Top speed
Sourced
Fastest level flight
Powered, flapping flight with no help from gravity.
1. 1Common pochard85.0km/h52.8mph23.6m/s45.9kn
2. 2Common scoter79.6km/h49.4mph22.1m/s43.0kn
3. 3Long-tailed duck79.2km/h49.2mph22m/s42.8kn
13 birds
Birds · Top speed
Sourced
Fastest birds of prey
Falcon, hawk and eagle. Dives and glides mixed, so read each row's conditions.
1. 1Peregrine falcon140km/h87.2mph39m/s75.8kn
2. 2Northern goshawk108km/h67.1mph30m/s58.3kn
3. 3Golden eagle65.1km/h40.4mph18.07m/s35.1kn
3 raptors

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Every report is read by a person, and corrections are dated on the page.

Birds, by how they fly

Fastest stoop dives

Fastest level flight

Fastest birds of prey

Related rankings

Fastest Birds

Fastest Mammals

Spot a wrong number?