Avoid fish and small fowl (8)
I believe the answer is:
duckling
'small fowl' is the definition.
'duckling' can be an answer for 'fowl' (I have seen 'little fowl' mean 'duckling' so perhaps 'fowl' could also mean 'duckling'). I am not certain of the 'small' bit.
'avoid fish' is the wordplay.
'avoid' becomes 'duck' (ducking is a kind of avoiding).
'fish' becomes 'ling' (ling is a kind of fish).
'duck'+'ling'='DUCKLING'
'and' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for duckling that I've seen before include "Young mallard, for instance" , "Young waterfowl" , "Young swimmer" , "Young swimming bird" , "little fowl" .)