A pet budgerigar has been returned to its Japanese owner after the stray bird told police its home address.

The male budgie escaped from its owner's home, west of Tokyo, over the weekend.

It was later found by a passerby and handed to police.

It did not speak until Tuesday night, when it reportedly blurted out the names of the city and district where its owner's house is located.

It followed that up with the block and street number.

The bird's owner, a 64-year old woman, says she taught the budgie her address after a previous pet bird flew away and was never found.

The budgerigar also told police its name, repeating, "you're pretty Piko-chan".