The producers of the third Pirates Of The Caribbean film are inviting gifted parrots to audition for a part.

The feathered hopefuls will have to demonstrate their talking skills to a panel of tough judges - and no swearing is allowed.

A source told Britain's Daily Star newspaper: "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a parrot with a big personality. We hope to uncover the next A-list avian superstar."

The lucky winning bird will first be used as the official "spokesparrot" for the DVD launch of the second swashbuckling adventure, Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.

It will then be flown to the island of Dominica, where it will join co-stars Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley to shoot the final film At World's End.

Owners hoping to get their parrot on the big screen have been given some expert advice on how to prepare their feathered friends for the gruelling auditions.

Mark Harden, who trains animals for the Pirates Of The Caribbean movies, said: "The best way to get a bird to perform is to have a great relationship with it. Speaking is important but the most important thing is that the parrot can sit quietly on the pirate's shoulder and not muck around with the character's hair, hat or earrings."