Cryptic crossword clue
…searching for quiet bird close to clearing 7

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word PROBING

I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
P
R
O
B
I
N
G

Buddy explains!

The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does PROBING mean?

PROBING verb
  1. To explore, investigate, or question
  2. To insert a probe into.
PROBING noun
  1. The action of investigating or exploring.
PROBING adjective
  1. That investigates or explores deeply; that attempts to elicit information that is concealed.

Latest crossword clues with full explanations