Fish eagles have a striking pattern: a white head and chest, chestnut-brown body and jet-black wings. Their eyesight is extraordinary - they can spot a fish moving just below the water's surface from 25 metres up in the air. Once they lock on to a target, they dive feet-first at high speed and snatch the fish out of the water with their curved, hooked talons.
The call of the fish eagle is one of nature's most famous sounds. The bird throws its head back and lets out a long, loud, ringing 'kow-kow-kow' cry. Malawian fishermen hear this sound every morning as they paddle out on the lake, and it has become part of the soundtrack of daily life across the country.
Fish eagles are loyal partners - a pair will often return to the same nest, called an eyrie, year after year, adding new sticks and branches each time until the nest becomes enormous. The same nest can be used for decades. Both parents take turns keeping the eggs warm and feeding the chicks.
In Malawi the fish eagle appears on the national flag and coat of arms. It represents freedom, strength and the country's deep connection to its lake and rivers. Children across Malawi learn to recognise its call from a very young age.