Graduate to sound like a crow - or a parrot (5)
I believe the answer is:
macaw
'a parrot' is the definition.
(type of parrot)
'graduate to sound like a crow' is the wordplay.
'graduate' becomes 'MA' (abbreviation for Master of Arts).
'to sound like a crow' becomes 'caw' (noise made by a crow).
'ma'+'caw'='MACAW'
'or' is the link.
(Other definitions for macaw that I've seen before include "Large bright parrot" , "Tropical bird" , "New World parrot" , "Colourful creature" , "Long-tailed American parrot" .)