BRITISH BIRDS OF FASTEST FLIGHT 
35 
I have tried to do is to strike an average for the 
species, the speed given being the maximum pace 
at which the bird can cover the gi'ound in level 
flight through still air." 
The speeds given for the peregrine and merlin 
are those of good trained birds ; the wild ones are 
faster. Here are the figures : 
Golden Plover 
Teal and Blackcock 
. 70 miles 
. 68 „ 
per hour 
55 
Peregrine . . . . 
Pheasant and Grouse 
Mallard 
Merlin and Blue Rock 
. 62 
. 60 
. 58 
. 55 
j5 
}> 
55 
55 
55 
55 
55 
55 
Partridge 
Green Plover"^ 
Jackdaw j 
. 53 
. 48 
55 
55 
55 
55 
Wood Pigeon 
Starling 
Kestrel 
. 45 
. 44 
. 43 
55 
55 
55 
55 
55 
55 
Rook . 
Landrail 
. 40 
. 35 
55 
55 
5> 
55 
The speed attained by golden plover when 
pressed has been estimated by airmen at over 
60 rniles per hour.^ 
Colonel R. Meinertzhagen, from whom I have 
also quoted above, states that he finds, " after 
eliminating abnormal conditions and observations 
based on meagre evidence, that the normal and 
1 76w, April 1921, p. 234. 
