Make sounds like a bird (4)
'make' is the definition.
(as in making money)
'sounds like a bird' is the wordplay.
'sounds like' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'a bird' becomes 'erne' (erne is a kind of bird).
'erne' is a homophone of 'EARN'.
(Other definitions for earn that I've seen before include "Take home" , "Gain by working" , "Get (money) for work or labour" , "Get by working" , "Pull in" .)
'bird' is the definition.
(erne is a kind of bird)
'make sounds' is the wordplay.
'make' becomes 'earn' (as in making money).
'sounds' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'earn' sounds like 'ERNE'.
'like a' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for erne that I've seen before include "Irish river, loughs; sea bird" , "Light (a flame)" , "White-tailed eagle" , "European sea eagle" , "flyer in the main" .)