The European peregrine, a hawk used in falconry, was timed at 165 to 180 mph during its dive after quarry. In level flight, easily overtakes and seizes such swift birds as ducks and pigeons. A few homing pigeons have averaged 60 mph over courses of a few miles and as much as 55 mph for 4 hours. The mourning dove and the golden plover have been chased by airplanes at 60 to 65 mph. Some ducks and geese can reach speeds of 55 to 60 mph or more, and the tiny hummingbird can do 50 to 55.
Most birds habitually fly at speeds much less than their maximum.
For example, crows commonly cruise at 20 to 30 mph but can speed up to 40 or 50. The distance endurance record is thought to be held by the Arctic tern which migrates to the Antarctic and back in about 20 weeks a distance of 20,000 to 22,000 miles. In a foot race the cheetah or hunting leopard wins. It has been timed at 70 miles an hour during short bursts of speed in pursuit of gazelles and antelopes. It can overtake and pull down the blackbuck of India which is reputed to reach 65 mph.