Discover the Fastest Animals in Kentucky

Kentucky’s forests are home to coyotes, foxes, and whitetail deer. These terrestrial critters can reach fast speeds when chasing prey or evading predators. At full speed, gray foxes can go 42 mph, and coyotes in full pursuit can reach speeds of 43 mph. But even though they’re fast, the state’s land animals are no match for the speedsters flying in the skies above!

There are a lot of speedy creatures in Kentucky, and the fastest ones happen to be birds! This article will reveal some of the fastest flyers zipping along the skyline. We’ll look at how they move and what they do with all that speed.

Keep reading to discover the fastest animals in Kentucky.

Peregrine Falcon

While diving, peregrine falcons can reach speeds of 240 mph! They reach top speeds when swooping to catch songbirds, waterfowl, pigeons, and other meals.

Also referred to as the duck hawk, the peregrine falcon is a bird of prey. Peregrine falcons are frequently confused with the cooper’s hawk because of their dark color. These crow-sized birds have a bluish-gray top color, and their bottom coloration is yellow to white with black bars.

How can these large birds go so fast? Peregrine falcons have a unique anatomy that includes an extended keel. The large keel makes it so the body can carry a lot of muscle. And the excess muscle gives these falcons more flapping power.

Another anatomical advantage is the narrow, curved wing. The narrow wing shape keeps drag at a minimum, and the curvature makes it easy to change course when diving through the air. Overall peregrine falcons have the perfect anatomy to maneuver quickly through the sky.

What are the chances of seeing one of these fast birds? Not very good. Peregrine falcons are incredibly rare in Kentucky. The state lists the bird as an endangered species. Hopefully, the status will soon change now that the peregrine falcon is a part of Kentucky’s state wildlife action plan.

Bald Eagle

Bald eagles also live in Kentucky and can reach speeds of 99 mph. They are one of the fastest animals in Kentucky and one of the biggest birds nationwide. As one of the largest birds in North America, bald eagles have a wingspan that is slightly larger than a great blue heron.

There are several ways to tell if that’s a bald eagle you see flying across the Kentucky skyline. Does the bird have a white head and a dark brown body? Are the legs and bill a bright yellow color? Fully mature adults have white heads and tails, and the rest of their body is a darker brown.

Bald eagles are experts at saving energy while soaring through the sky. They hold their large wingspan out flat and wide like a board. Instead of flapping, these majestic birds wait for the air currents to gain altitude.

Unlike the rare peregrine falcon, bald eagles are all over Kentucky. The birds are doing so well that the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources kindly asks residents to stop reporting bald eagle sightings. They already know that these birds are doing well and thriving throughout the state.

Winter is the best time to see bald eagles in Kentucky. During these cold winter months, eagles gather in large numbers. You can spend hours watching them speed through the sky as they dive to catch fish, turtles, snakes, waterfowl, and more.

Golden Eagle

The golden eagle is another one of the fastest animals in Kentucky. Holding their wings in a v-shape as they soar through the air, these birds can reach speeds of 200 mph.

While casually flying through the air, their regular soaring speed is about 30 mph. The gliding speed picks up to 120 mph as they begin the hunt. Once the golden eagle starts stooping for prey, 150 miles per hour to 200 mph speeds are common.

Fully mature golden eagles look like hawks, except they’re much larger. They have a dark to blackish-brown coloration and a golden sheen on the back of their head. As young adults, they have white tail bases and white-winged patches.

Golden eagles are rare in Kentucky, but they sometimes winter there. When the nesting season begins, golden eagles move up north. Their usual nesting season starts around July and continues through October. There isn’t a confirmed golden eagle nest in the state or breeding pair. But you can still spot a golden eagle if you’re lucky during winter.

Anna’s Hummingbird

Anna’s hummingbird is a speedy medium-sized bird species that live in Kentucky. Relative to its size, it’s the fastest bird in the world and can reach speeds of 61 mph when diving.

Anna’s hummingbirds have short bills and stocky broad tails. If you’re lucky enough to see one of them perching, you’ll notice the tail extends past the wing tips. They are gray and green, and males have reddish-pink feathers on their heads and throat.

You can spot these adorable hummingbirds, residential streets, yards, coastal scrub, riverside woods, parks, and savannahs. Annas hummingbirds are a common sighting in Kentucky, and these birds aren’t shy when it comes to raiding backyards for food. They’ll happily come to hummingbird feeders and the right flowering plants in gardens.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Martin Mecnarowski/Shutterstock.com