Peregrines are the fastest animals in the world. They can reach speeds of over 200mph during a dive and can withstand G-forces that would cause a human to pass out. They mostly hunt other birds and kill their prey by plummeting from above and striking them with a single, often deadly, blow. The falcons then circle back to retrieve their prey as they fall dead or unconscious through the air. If their prey somehow survives the blow, the peregrines use their powerful beaks to kill it with a swift strike to the bird's neck.
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Range: Europe, Asia, North and South America, Australia and Africa.
Characteristics: Adults have slate blue-grey wings and black-barred backs. Their undersides are white with light brown stripes and they have white faces, with a black stripe on each cheek.