Toby, a five-year-old African grey parrot, has been heard singing the EastEnders theme tune and shouting “Toby needs a tickle” after returning home to Lewis Mitchell, of Killinghall Street, Darlington.

The parrot, which could only eat upside down because of a split lower beak, escaped from the house two weeks ago, sparking a frantic search by Lewis and his family.

As hopes faded, Lewis’ mother, Jane Mitchell, 45, told Lewis his beloved pet had returned to Africa to see its friends. “I said that because I never thought we would see him again, ” she said last night.

But unbeknown to the family, Toby had been found a few streets away by a man who took him to Stanhope Park Veterinary Centre, in Darlington. They looked after him, and patched up his beak, which he broke while playing.

After proving Toby was theirs, he was allowed to return to the Mitchell’s home.

Lewis, a pupil at Gurney Pease Primary School, said: “When I got him back, I stayed up with him all night.

I thought he was lost forever.” Toby’s repertoire also includes the family’s names, the Laurel and Hardy theme tune, and a daily 6am wake-up call.

Mrs Mitchell said: “He hadn’t been speaking at the vets, but he’s been speaking a lot since coming home.

He must be happy.”

The family thanked the RSPCA, the vet and the man who found Toby

The African Grey Parrot was stolen with his pal Pip – who’s a little friendlier – from their home in Murston, Sittingbourne, on December 22.

They were taken between 9:30pm and 9:55pm from an aviary in the back garden of a house in Woodbury Drive, after offenders got through fencing.

Percy, who is partly bald after plucking his chest feathers out, is said to be vicious and liable to attack. Pip is nicer, and both are able to speak.

The thieves also took a parrot carrier, which is black metal and has a perch through the middle.

Anyone with information on the theft or the whereabouts of the birds is asked to contact police in Sittingbourne on 01795 419182 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting crime report number CY/20213/10.

A man allegedly threatened a woman with a pair of scissors and kicked her in the knee, before stealing her large African grey parrot in South Marine Drive.

The thief demanded the animal in lieu for a debt the woman and her partner allegedly owed him on December 22 last year.

The bird, which has a grey body, a red tail and a black beak, talks and whistles and often says “Henry”.

A man and a woman have been voluntarily interviewed by police in connection with the theft.

Anyone with information can call police on 0845 6060222

Mark Walters, from Makepiece Road in Priestwood, has been hunting for his beloved African grey parrot Tootsie since she flew away in October.

Have you seen missing parrot?

Mark said he is sure Tootsie is still in the area and has been dashing to places where she has been spotted, however he has not managed to catch her.

He said: “I’ve had so many calls about her. She was spotted in Great Hollands, she’s been spotted near here and even near Heatherwood Hospital in Ascot.

“So she’s definitely about, but it’s a question of catching her.”

He added Tootsie has a distinctive call and can even whistle the theme tune to Clint Eastwood’s classic ‘The Good, The Bad and the Ugly’.

Anyone who thinks they have seen her can call Mark on 07957 612173.

Now whenever she sees the striker’s fellow Premier League high-fliers she also shrieks THEIR names — including: “Carrick!” “Evra!” and “Scholesy!”

Proud Lizzie Greatorex, 49, revealed the African Grey seems to know the team’s formation — lumping Vidic and Ferdinand together as defenders.

Original story sourced from The Sun http://www.thesun.co.uk
The bird also shows her respect for veterans such as Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville — by saying their names in FULL.

And whenever she spots Red Devils boss Fergie she screeches: “Sir Alex!”

United fan Lizzie admitted the four-year-old bird does have problems with some of the players — such as Van der Sar and South Korean Ji-sung Park.

But the mum, whose family hails from Derby, said at her home in Cape Town, South Africa: “Pigeon loves United.”

The bird often joins in with fans — swearing “f*** off” at officials and shouting: “Do you want some?”

And she HATES Liverpool.

A fan of the team that famously never squawks alone tried to teach her to say “Gerrard”. Pigeon replied: “B******s!”