What is the fastest bird in the world?

Donald Gudehus Clearly, you are overthinking this question. When you speak of the fastest car, do you think in terms of how fast the doors open, how fast the lights come on, how fast it heats up in the winter, or how fast it can move? If any of the issues you bring up were the intent, don't you think the question would have specified in that vein? You are quibbling, which makes me think you might have answered incorrectly.

Jennifer Hill The question is about speed, plain and simple. The mode by which that speed is attained is left open. The fact remains that the highest speed attainable by the peregrine falcon is the highest speed attained by any animal by any means, making it the fastest in the world. Duration and mode of that speed do not enter into the equation. Had the question been given certain parameters, perhaps the answer might have been different, but that was not the case.

William Laughlin Your logic in both of your responses is right on. The question was straightforward, and required nothing more than a straightforward answer. Too many complicate, when they should simplify.

William Laughlin Me thinks you have explained the posters problem. He missed the question. How and the hell could it be any clearer? Amazing.

Robert Haugh Thank you. I agree completely. I feel many rewrite questions in their heads by adding or ignoring details, thereby answering a question that wasn't asked.

Me thinks most comments are merely an attempt at displaying superiority. Whether it's achieved, or not, is irrelevant. I find them humorous.

Danny Hurst, You are absolutely correct. I applaud the author for not putting a picture of a peregrine falcon as it would have given away the answer AS MANY OF THE CLONES DO AND IS A MAJOR COMPLAINT in my opinion. If the question was what bird is in this picture then nome of the choices would have been correct as the picture is of a mountain bluebird as you stated.

Gail Prince, Hummingbirds have far more unique flight abilities than any other bird as they are able to fly not only forward, but also backward, sideways, straight up and hover.

The Hummingbird is also the "fastest", in a different respect... 2 correct answers for this question!

Love you showing picture of your question. :D <3

Chriss Crockford, I wondered the same. It might be an indigo bunting.

This is a mighty fast bird!

Simple question, all these comments, some are essays. Every question is criticised.

First bird that came to my mind before I even looked at the answers.

It clearly says mph gudehus,

Falcons are incredibly fast. Watched a show at an animal park here where they had different birds. Their fastest falcon flew at 200 kph. It was very difficult to follow it.

Fastest flying bird/raptor on earth. Body like Michael Phelps, as it's body is built is for speed.

williamrlaughlin, Very good reply William. People have a tendency to interject their abstract thinking into everything and that causes many people to try to argue where there is no argument to be made. If the question was about the bird with the fastest wingbest it would have said "Which bird has the fastest wingbeat?" If it was which bird has the fastest digestion it would have asked "Which bird has the fastest digestion?" The answer to the wingbeat question would be a specific type of hummingbird, (The Ruby Throated hummingbird), but that wingbeat is only attained during courtship, which I'm sure someone would try to challenge as far as wording goes. It is the fastest, regardless of natural conditions. Take questions at face value and don't try to create variables to excuse your wrong answers. Fastest bird means fastest bird, fastest heartbeat means fastest heartbeat. If you have reading comprehension problems, take steps to overcome them, if you have communication problems, take steps to overcome them. Why do people try so hard to complicate simple issues? This is a main reason why there is so much political division, people insist on introducing their opinions into simple situations and that leads to proliferation of misguided opinions and we end up with political misunderstandings, misunderstandings and protests.

Andy Gibson, What difference does it make how the speed is achieved? Fastest is fastest. Why do so many people want to complicate such simple things? If I would ask "What bird flies the highest? Would it make a difference how that species attains an altitude of 37,000 feet? Highest is highest. Should the question be accompanied by a stipulation like Without being propelled by artificial means, such as being shot out of a cannon? (In which case I'm sure someone could get a frozen chicken to achieve the highest altitude as well as the fastest speed in the same "flight").

gudehus and Jennifer Hill, When I think fastest I think speed. If someone asks you what was the fastest car you ever owned would you think in terms of the car that could attain the highest engine RPMs, be the fastest to start, the fastest to stop from 55 mph, the fastest to recharge a dead battery, the fastest to warm up in cold weather or the one that could go the fastest? Don't overthink these questions, take them at face value and don't interject your own variables and terms where they don't belong. The peregrine falcon can dive an about 200 miles per hour, that's a fast bird no matter how you look at it.

joshtcouture, LAND or air? Are you thinking flying penguins???