Crossword Genius

Fox starts to be evasive, catching birds (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

bemuse

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

'fox starts' is the definition.
'bemuse' can be an answer for 'fox' (I've seen this before). I am unsure of the 'starts' bit.

'evasive catching birds' is the wordplay.
'evasive' becomes 'be' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'catching' is an insertion indicator.
'birds' becomes 'emus' (emu is a kind of bird).
'be' going around 'emus' is 'BEMUSE'.

'to be' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for bemuse that I've seen before include "Fox" , "Puzzle and confuse" , "Cause puzzlement" , "Nonplus" , "Bewilder or baffle" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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