Cryptic crossword clue
Strange thing to try to flog – a bird 9

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word NIGHTHAWK

I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
N
I
G
H
T
H
A
W
K

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "a bird" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case a bird = nighthawk.
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 NIGHTHAWK mean?

NIGHTHAWK noun
  1. A nightjar, especially Caprimulgus europaeus.
  2. A New World nightjar of the genus Chordeiles, especially Chordeiles minor.
  3. A person whose preference or custom is to remain awake and active during the night and the early morning hours.
  4. A nighthawker.

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