Birds shake sticks (7)

I believe the answer is:

mopokes

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'birds' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I can't tell whether this works.

'shake sticks' is the wordplay.
'shake' becomes 'mo' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'sticks' becomes 'pokes' (I've seen this in another clue).
'mo'+'pokes'='MOPOKES'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for mopokes that I've seen is " owls".)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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