A hapless monitor lizard died while trying to eat a white falcon inside its cage.

The reptile thought it would have a nice, big meal after spotting the enclosure with a bird in Surat Thani province, Thailand, on March 25.

But after trying to crawl through the gaps in the wire fence, the swift bird of prey lunged at the creature.

Footage shows the lizard's neck hanging inside one of the holes as the falcon's sharp claws pierced through the animal's head and refused to let go.

The white falcon even gruesomely pecked on the dead reptile's eyes, seemingly to blind it and make sure it would be able to escape.

Pet owner Sumeth said: ‘The poor lizard might have thought my pet was a chicken. My bird is really fierce.'

The monitor lizard was later buried in the yard after the falcon had let go of it.