Local woman building an aviary (9)
I believe the answer is:
birdhouse
'aviary' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'local woman building' is the wordplay.
'local woman' becomes 'bird' (bird is a kind of woman. I am not sure about the 'local' bit.).
'building' becomes 'house' (I've seen this before).
'bird'+'house'='BIRDHOUSE'
'an' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Another definition for birdhouse that I've seen is " American nest-box".)