Uplifting cry? It could be a bird (6)
I believe the answer is:
peewit
'a bird' is the definition.
(peewit is a kind of bird)
'uplifting cry? it' is the wordplay.
'uplifting' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'cry?' becomes 'weep' (synonyms).
'weep' written backwards gives 'peew'.
'peew'+'it'='PEEWIT'
'could be' is the link.
(Other definitions for peewit that I've seen before include "Lapwing turned up in a wee pit" , "Flighty type" , "Northern lapwing" , "Kind of plover; let it weep" , "Lapwing - ie wept (anag)" .)