The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) one of the fastest animals in the world, is believed to achieve speeds of over 300kph when plunging. The air pressure from such a dive could possibly damage a bird’s lungs, but small bony tubercles on a Peregrine Falcon’s nostrils guide the powerful airflow away from the nostrils, enabling the bird to breathe more easily while diving by reducing the change in air pressure. The Peregrine Falcon’s upper beak is notched near the tip, an adaptation which enables falcons to kill prey by severing the spinal column at the neck. The Peregrine Falcon has been used in falconry for more than 3,000 years, beginning with nomads in central Asia. It is a widespread bird of prey in the family Falconidae and is the national bird of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
