Songbird nabbed by Brazil gang

An armed gang in Brazil held up a retired policeman - before making off with his champion songbird.

Distraught owner Silvio Luis Pereira has offered a $1,500 reward for the prized bird's safe return.

The bird, curiously named Vinte Polegadas, or Twenty Inches, is said to hold the Brazilian record for songbirds - singing 238 notes during a 15 minute contest.

Mr Pereira thinks his bird was stolen after he jokingly told a bird fanciers magazine that Twenty Inches was worth $30,000.

He said he had been held up by four heavily-armed men in a Rio de Janeiro suburb last week.

He had expected a ransom demand, and has urged the police to call off their search for fear the robbers might panic and kill the bird.

The bird, a female with yellow and green plumage, is said to belong to the tanager species.

The BBC's Jan Rocha in Sao Paolo says Brazilians are more used to armed gangs stealing cars, cash or even works of art than songbirds.

"We are investigating but we think this is a specialised kidnapping. This bird was famous in the neighbourhood," a police spokesperson was quoted as saying.

"The whole thing is a bit ridiculous to be honest, but we have to treat it seriously."