The Red-crowned crane,or Grus japoensis,has won out as the only appropriate candidate for China's national bird after years of expert analysis and public internet polls.
The Red-crowned Crane,a bird that Chinese used to connect with beautiful myth and represents longevity in greetings,won an overwhelming 64.92% of the vote held on more than twenty websites across China from May to June 2004 attracting around 5 million netizens.
Ten species,also including magpie and golden pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus),were listed as candidates.
More than 40 countries currently have national birds.The United States started the trend for national birds when it made the Bald Eagle as its avian representative 200 years ago