The national animal of Zambia is the African fish eagle. It is a symbol of hope and freedom, and due to its vast range it is known in many different places and by many different peoples. The bird looks rather like the bald eagle, though its white feathers extend much further down.
Zambia’s national animal is an important symbol of the nation’s commitment to liberty and happiness.
It features on the country’s flag, coat of arms, and on many other pieces of important national insignia.
Such a majestic animal is naturally totally appropriate for this proud nation.
Let’s find out more.
What is the national animal and bird of Zambia?
The national animal of Zambia, which also just so happens to be a bird, is the African fish eagle.
This bird is very important to many different African nations but especially in Zambia, where it can be found on all sorts of insignia worn by people and displayed on buildings.
This bird is very well known in Zambia and virtually all will recognize it, just in the same way virtually anyone in the U.S. would recognize the bald eagle.
Heraldry is of course very important in any nation today, to some extent.
Heraldry is a very old practice relating to the design and display of armorial bearings.
We tend to understand heraldry in quite a specific way, today, but the truth is it’s a lot more varied than that.
One important thing to remember about a country like Zambia is that it only took its modern form very recently—as early as 1964 in Zambia’s case.
Whereas at one time heraldry would have been primarily something worn on clothes or borne on armor, today it is more likely to be seen on a flag or a building.
It has been important, then, for the country to establish its own traditions and national heraldry in that time, then.
Of course, the African fish eagle has been extremely important as a symbol to Zambian people for much longer than this, but it was made an official symbol only in relatively recent decades.
In some local languages, the African fish eagle is known as Nkwazi.
It is not only used on official heraldry but also on Zambian branding, such as beer logos.
This elegant and graceful bird is the perfect symbol of this proud African nation, and it’s no surprise that we so often find the most grace in large birds of prey such as this.
Let’s find out more about the bird itself.
Why is it called the African fish eagle?
It is called the African fish eagle because it specializes in hunting aquatic prey.
It has developed specific talons that help it to grasp and keep hold of fish and other aquatic prey.
It is mostly found by coastlines, rivers and freshwater lakes where it hunts virtually fish that are found there.
They are native to sub-Saharan Africa, and can be found over most of continental Africa south of the Sahara.
They are a generalist species, though, and can be found to some extent in nearly any kind of body of water.
They are most often found in lakes and rivers, but they can also be found in wetland of all kinds, such as swamps, marshes, rainforest and even sometimes the desert bordering coastlines.
You certainly will not find it in arid areas, though.
So, it certainly has plenty of living space in Zambia and this has made it a powerful and popular national image in the country.
Currently, the bird is of least concern and is in no danger of extinction or becoming endangered.
Is the African fish eagle bigger than the bald eagle?
Though certainly a very large bird, the African fish eagle is not quite as big as the bald eagle.
They are usually around 25 and 29 inches long, weighing between four and eight pounds.
Bald eagles can be as large as 28 to 40 inches and weigh as much as 12 pounds. A bald eagle’s wingspan could be as long as 6 or 7 feet.
If you’ve never seen an African fish eagle or a bald eagle up close, it can be difficult to appreciate just how large they really are.
Once you see a bald eagle, in particular, you won’t think that something slightly smaller than it isn’t a big bird—the African fish eagle is still very large!
Where does the African fish eagle live?
As mentioned, the African fish eagle can be found virtually throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
This means that anywhere south of the Sahara desert, they can be found living near bodies of water.
They are found in Zambia, but also in Malawi, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.
Usually, they will not go anywhere near dry and arid areas, though they may sometimes have to travel through them in search of new hunting grounds and territory.
You will find the African fish eagle over an absolutely vast range, then, appropriate for their size and flying ability.
The fish eagle is a more than fitting symbol for Zambia, then.
It is a majestic and wide ranging bird that can be found not only in Zambia but also widely in other countries, too.
It may put you in mind of the bald eagle at first, so just look at how far its white feathers extend down its chest to be able to tell the difference.
Look out for this symbol all over Zambia.