The owner of an English speaking parrot was left mystified when it disappeared for four years, only to return speaking Spanish.
Nigel the parrot spoke in a British accent when he belonged to Brit Darren Chick. But the bird disappeared from his California home years ago.
No-one knows what became of Nigel during the four years he was missing.
He was recently found by a vet who mistook the creature for her own missing pet.
Teresa Micco eventually discovered Nigel had a microchip, which she used to trace owner Mr Chick.
Ms Micco introduced herself and said: "Have you lost a bird?"
She said he looked at her "like she was crazy" when she told him she had his pet as it had been gone for such a long time.
Mr Chick says the animal's accent has completely gone and it now talks only in Spanish.
"He's doing perfect" Mr Chick said. "It's really weird. I knew it was him from the minute I saw him."
The parrot was brought to the vet by Julissa Sperling who found it outside her home.
"He was the happiest bird. He was singing and talking without control," Ms Sperling said.
"He was barking like the dogs. I'm from Panama and he was saying, `What happened?' in Spanish."
