A macaque was caught red-handed trying to steal a pet bird from its cage.

In a video posted on the Facebook group "Singapore Incidents", the primate was seen perched on the second floor of a HDB block.

Monkey tries to catch bird

Rising up on its legs, the monkey gripped the cage hanging by the ledge of the corridor.

The cage looked to be as tall as the monkey's own torso.

Its occupant, a small bird, flitted frantically around the cage, seemingly alarmed by its unexpected visitor.

The bird's movements appeared to excite the monkey even further.

Eyes glued intently to the bird, the macaque's hands followed the bird's flight path, probably in an attempt to catch it.

The monkey's manic movements ended up swinging and spinning the cage.

This caught the attention of another macaque, who flanked his fellow primate to watch the bird.

Bird could be food

While a more heartwarming story could involve us spinning a tale about a monkey trying to free or befriend a trapped bird, it is likely that the bird just seemed tasty to the monkey.

Macaques naturally inhabit forested areas and can also be found in mangroves, according to an advisory on the National Parks Board's (NParks) website.

As a forest fringe animal, they also frequent their immediate surroundings to explore and search for food.

Macaques are omnivores, meaning their diet consists of both plants and animals.

They primarily feast on fruit, berries, seeds, shoots, flowers, and herbs but will also eat insects, eggs, birds and rodents, according to Wild Welfare.

More monkey business

Top image via Singapore Incidents/Facebook