The Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), also known simply as the Peregrine,and historically as the Duck Hawk in North America, is a cosmopolitan bird of prey in the family Falconidae. It is a large, crow-sized falcon, with a blue-gray back, barred white underparts, and a black head and moustache. It can reach speeds over 320 km/h (200 mph) in a stoop, making it the fastest animal in the world.