Bulgarian customs agents at Sofia airport netted an apparent illegal entry into the country - some 107 parrots in four cages that arrived from Lebanon.

But these were no ordinary birds.

They are African grey parrots from Gabon, a threatened species, which can fetch between €1,000 and €1,800 on the black market in the EU, the customs agency said in a statement.

The talkative birds sought after as pets were brought into the country by a Bulgarian of Lebanese origin who did not have the necessary papers for transporting the parrots, the agency said.

The African Grey Parrot is on a CITES list which restricts trade of wild caught species.

The 107 parrots have found at least a temporary home, in the Sofia zoo.