A flighty bird, we believe (7)
I believe the answer is:
swallow
'believe' is the definition.
(to swallow something is to accept or believe it)
I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for swallow that I've seen before include "Bird - drink" , "flier" , "put up with" , "Songbird" , "Buy < and consume" .)