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.