Abstract

The Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus is usually considered the fastest flying bird and popular opinion suggests that the nasal tubercle evolved as a specific agent for high-speed flight. The development of the nasal tubercle in Falconiformes (based on skulls of Falconiformes from the UK Natural History Museum) does not support this view. In addition, a micro-CT based analysis of the inlet air flow pattern of a recently-deceased, male Peregrine’s nasal passages while not suggesting the tubercle evolved to aid high-speed flight, may aid a smoother flow pattern during such flights.