Less expensive-sounding young bird? (7)

I believe the answer is:

cheeper

'young bird?' is the definition.
(a bird that cheeps)

'less expensive-sounding' is the wordplay.
'less expensive' becomes 'cheaper' ('cheap' can be the opposite of 'expensive' so perhaps 'cheaper' is reasonable for 'less expensive').
'sounding' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'cheaper' is a homophone of 'CHEEPER'.

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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