Cape Times Cryptic Crossword

[JackDunwoody]

The humming-bird in the dawn chorus, or what it's saying (3,2,3,7) ?O? O? T?E ?O?N?N? The answer would appearto be TOP OF THE MORNING, but why?

[brainiac]

There is a toy called a humming top

[JackDunwoody]

Hi brainiac, I'm aware of the humming top but where does the bird in the clue fit in? it all seems very loose.

[dannyk13]

Jack, the whole clue seems esoteric.Like you I cannot see how the bird fits in.In the absence of anything else I would just go with Top of the Morning which does parse with humming and morning.

[JackDunwoody]

Thank you both