Crooner holding a bird is playing a game (7)
I believe the answer is:
bowling
'playing a game' is the definition.
'bowling' can be an answer for 'playing' (bowling is a kind of playing). I am not certain of the 'a game' bit.
'crooner holding a bird' is the wordplay.
'crooner' becomes 'Bing' (Bing Crosby).
'holding' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'a bird' becomes 'owl' (owl is a kind of bird).
'bing' going around 'owl' is 'BOWLING'.
'is' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for bowling that I've seen before include "getting out" , "making a delivery" , "-- Alley; -- green" , "Sport" , "Game" .)