Crossword Genius

Same bird seen regularly, it rises above California (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

identical

'same' is the definition.
('identical' can be similar in meaning to 'same')

'bird seen regularly it rises above california' is the wordplay.
'regularly' means one should take alternating letters (regularly take one letter, leave next etc.).
'rises' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'above' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'california' becomes 'cal' (**).
'bird'+'seen'='birdseen'
The alternate letters of 'birdseen' are 'iden'.
'it' in reverse letter order is 'ti'.
'iden'+'ti'+'cal'='IDENTICAL'

(Other definitions for identical that I've seen before include "Impossible to tell apart" , "Similar" , "not distinguished" , "lacking distinction" , "Like two peas in a pod" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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