Birds with strings attached? (5)

I believe the answer is:

kites

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'birds' is the definition.
(kite is a kind of bird)

I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for kites that I've seen before include "aircraft" , "Large hawks or flying toys" , "Aerial toys; birds" , "More than one toy" , "Small hawks" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.

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