Kept, as are exotic birds (9)

I believe the answer is:

parakeets

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

'kept as are exotic' is the wordplay.
'exotic' is an anagram indicator.
'kept'+'as'+'are'='keptasare'
'keptasare' anagrammed gives 'PARAKEETS'.

(Other definitions for parakeets that I've seen before include "Peak rates (anag.)" , "Birds" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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