THIEVES have stolen a bird of prey from a home in Bishopstoke .

The two-year-old Harris hawk was taken from an aviary in Guest Road.

Neighbours spotted two men breaking into the garden, before a group of four walked away from the home.

Owner Ryan Morgan, 21, says the bird, known as The Gir, has plumage that is nearly black on her front, brown feathers on her wings and is wearing a blue identification ring.

He says he wants to warn other bird owners about potential thefts He said: “I have had her since she was 14 weeks old – it’s awful.

“She cost me £300 but then you have to add on the hours I have spent feeding her, training her – the dedication and work that has gone into looking after her.

“She was born in captivity and I still have all the paperwork – nobody should be buying a bird without paperwork.

“If there’s any information that leads to her safe return then there will be a reward “I just want to warn other owners. I didn’t think I was building an aviary to stop thieves, we thought it was to keep her in and keep her safe.”

The theft happened at around 1.30am on Wednesday, August 8.

Anyone with information should call Eastleigh police on 101.