Peregrine
Falcon

During a high-speed hunting dive called a stoop, the falcon folds its wings and can exceed 240 miles per hour.

Special bony structures in their nostrils called tubercles slow down and spiral the rushing air, preventing lung damage—a design that has inspired modern jet engines.

They feed almost exclusively on other birds, like pigeons, doves, and starlings, catching them mid-air.

If the impact of a dive does not kill the prey, they use a special notch on their beak called a terminal tooth to sever the spine.