Birds a sailor throws around (9)
I believe the answer is:
starlings
'birds' is the definition.
(starling is a kind of bird)
'a sailor throws around' is the wordplay.
'a sailor' becomes 'tar' (tar can mean a sailor).
'throws' becomes 'slings' (I've seen this in another clue).
'around' indicates putting letters inside.
'tar' inserted into 'slings' is 'STARLINGS'.
(Other definitions for starlings that I've seen before include "Al strings the birds along" , "Migratory songbirds" .)