Crossword Genius

Bird is a bargain by the end (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

snipe

'bird' is the definition.
(snipe is a kind of bird)

'bargain by the end' is the wordplay.
'bargain' becomes 'snip' (slang term for a good deal).
'by' says to put letters next to each other.
'end' says to take the final letters.
The last letter of 'the' is 'e'.
'snip'+'e'='SNIPE'

'is a' is the link.

(Other definitions for snipe that I've seen before include "Game bird" , "Shoot from place of concealment" , "Criticise" , "Shoot; birds" , "The bird to shoot from cover" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.
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