This is the terrifying moment a monitor lizard broke into a home and tried to eat a pet bird.

The ravenous predator charged into the house and ran towards a cage placed on the living room floor in Bangkok, Thailand.

Dramatic CCTV footage shows the reptile attempting to open the metal enclosure while the frantic bird flapped its wings and squawked for help on June 21.

Upon hearing the commotion, the owner stepped out of her bedroom, startling the monitor lizard and causing it to dart away.

The animal can be seen running into another room as other family members quickly dragged the birdcage to safety.

They reportedly called an animal rescue team to remove the lizard from the house.

The homeowner said no one was hurt during the encounter, although the bird was left badly shaken by the incident.

Asian water monitor lizards normally live in canals, swamps, sewers and ponds in cities in Thailand. They feed on fish, snakes, frogs and scraps of food left by humans.

The reptiles are aggressive when threatened and have a mildly venomous bite which sometimes carries harmful bacteria. The Godzilla-like reptiles are also a protected species in the country so their population thrives.