The Peregrine Falcon, formerly known in North America sometimes as the Duck Hawk, is a medium-sized falcon about the size of a large crow.
The Peregrine Falcon is the fastest creature on the planet in its hunting dive, the stoop, in which it soars to a great height, then dives steeply at speeds in excess of 200 mph (320 km/h) into either wing of its prey, so as not to harm itself on impact. The top speed recorded is 242.3 mph (390 km/h). The fledglings practice the roll and the pumping of the wings before they master the actual stoop.
