On Fri, 18 Dec 2020 18:08:44 +0000, Fredxx wrote:
This is pretty impressive:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_SR-71_Blackbird

Maximum speed: 1,910 kn (2,200 mph, 3,540 km/h) at 80,000 ft (24,000 m)
Maximum speed: Mach 3.32[N 5]
Ferry range: 2,824 nmi (3,250 mi, 5,230 km)
Service ceiling: 85,000 ft (26,000 m)
Rate of climb: 11,820 ft/min (60.0 m/s)

I'm not sure how many starlings can beat that?

OK, a clear win on speed - no bird can exceed the speed of sound, and
given how energy inefficient supersonic flight is it's hardly surprising.
Birds have made it to 37,000 ft which is the same height as commercial
airliners but doesn't come near the Blackbird.

But birds have been tracked flying non-stop for 7,500 miles, and the
swift can stay airborne for 10 months (and probably longer if they didn't
have to land to raise chicks). The largest ever formation of aircraft
(drones) seems to be just over 3000, while the largest recorded starling
murmuration is about 6 million.

It's the same as in many fields - human technology wins easily on raw
power, but struggles to match nature in efficiency and control.

Mike