Great Snipe sets new migration speed record

The Peregrine Falcon is known as the fastest bird on Earth when diving upon prey, but a new study shows that a small European shorebird, the Great Snipe, holds the record for the longest distance in the shortest time when migrating between northwestern Sweden and central Africa. [Wired.com]

During its annual migration, a single snipe may fly for 96 consecutive hours, covering more than 4,000 miles. That’s four days without stopping or sleeping, sometimes at average speeds of 50 miles per hour.