By Akintunde Aderonke Omolewu | Fact Frontier.
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The peregrine falcon’s high-speed dive is the animal kingdom’s most violent collision. A new scientific study has now measured the exact force of that strike.
The force of a stooping peregrine exceeds 400 newtons. This is equal to the momentum of a swung claw hammer focused on a tiny knuckle.
The bird reaches over 240 miles per hour at the bottom of its dive. It hits prey with a closed fist, using the bony knuckle of its rear toe.
This punch stuns or kills birds like ducks in mid-air. During the breeding season, falcons also dive-bomb humans who approach their nests.
A cyclist in the UK was recently knocked from his bike by a territorial female. The strike cracked his helmet and caused a scalp laceration and a concussion.
Human attacks are purely defensive and not predatory. The falcon’s beak has a special notch for killing small birds, not for harming people.
Even a slowed-down defensive stoop can break facial bones or damage eyes. Falcons also destroy hobby drones by punching them out of the sky.
The falcon’s body absorbs massive impact forces without brain injury. These raptors are strictly protected by law worldwide.
If a falcon dives at you, wear a hat and back away while waving your arms. Experts say we are lucky they only see us as trespassers needing a firm punch.
