Sam the parrot took a squawk on the wild side and ended up in Salisbury 45 miles from his home near Swindon.

But the 10-year-old African grey has been reunited with his owner, Nicky Carp, thanks to the Evening Advertiser.

Nicky, 57, from Winterbourne Monkton, said: "Sam certainly likes to spread his wings. He has gone missing before and this time we thought he was a goner. It's amazing to have him back."

When Sam escaped from his aviary in Nicky's back garden a month ago, she was distraught.

Desperate to find him, she woke up at four in the morning and searched the village streets.

Nicky said: "I got up with the lark to find him because the thought of losing Sam was so unbearable."

She also placed an appeal in the Adver offering £100 reward for his safe return.

Despite several sightings of the bird, which has a bright red tail, Sam proved impossible to catch.

Losing hope of finding him, she decided to search the lost and found section on the Adver's website.

"I found another wayward parrot owner, Danielle Williams, and called to see if we could help each other," Nicky said.

Danielle told her about a parrot matching Sam's description in the Wiltshire Wildlife Hospital in Allington, Salisbury. Willing to try anything, Nicky called the hospital and asked about the parrot's habits. To her amazement, the match sounded perfect.

She said: "As soon as they mentioned his distinctive whistle, I knew it was Sam. I could scarcely believe my luck."

The intrepid parrot had flown more than 30 miles to Boscombe. But his adventures were thwarted when he became trapped in an aircraft hangar at Boscombe Down military research centre.

Marilyn Watson, supervisor at the Wiltshire Wildlife Hospital, said: "An RAF sergeant brought Sam in three weeks ago and we have been looking after him ever since. He was a bit thin from all that travelling but soon perked up and started whistling."

On receiving Nicky's call, Marilyn realised she was Sam's long lost owner and they were reunited on Tuesday. Nicky said: "It is such a relief to have him back. He's like my baby."

Equally relieved to hear about his safe return was Sam's previous owner, Sally Spiewakowski. She gave the parrot to Nicky before emigrating to America five years ago.

No stranger to going astray, Sam fled from his previous home in Abbey Meads. After another appeal in the Adver he was traced in Pinehurst.

Nicky said: "I suppose Sam's a parrot that likes to see the world. But he always comes back to Swindon."