Dustin the Turkey plucked to represent Ireland at Eurovision

A puppet bird has been plucked to represent Ireland in this year's Eurovision Song Contest after a televised vote, which placed Dustin the Turkey at the top of the pecking order.

The turkey vulture character, who hosts his own television show, Dustin's Daily News, captured the country's imagination with the song Irelande Douze Pointe a parody of the Eurovision voting system.

Voters phoned or texted their choices into the Saturday night show,picking from a roster of six candidates.

The song, composed by Darren Smith and Simone Fine, amps up the campiness of the contest with lyrics such as: "Shakeyour feathers and pop your beak, shake it to the west and to the east / Wave Euro-hands and euro-feet, wave in the air to the turkey beat."

Dustin is a singing veteran. He has already released six albums, and his last one 2005's Bling When You're Minging featured a duet with Chris de Burgh,known for his songs Lady in Red and Don't Pay the Ferryman.

The voting resultsmeans Dustin is destined for Belgrade, Serbia, where he will compete against songs frommore than 40countries in the semi-final round on May 20. After another knock-off round, 10 nations will be left standing to vie for the prize on May 24.

The Eurovision Song Contest, now in its 53rd year, is known for its glitzy but tacky costumes, bizarre songs and outrageous performances.

Last year's winner, Marija Serifovic from Serbia, won with her power ballad Molitva (A Prayer ). An estimated 100 million people from 42 countries watched last year's gala, which took place in Helsinki.

Ireland will be back in competition with a vengeance its 2007 entry, Dervish, came in last.