Crossword Genius

Avoid fish, offering young bird (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

duckling

'young bird' is the definition.
'duckling' can be an answer for 'bird' (duckling is a kind of bird). I'm not sure about the 'young' bit.

'avoid fish' is the wordplay.
'avoid' becomes 'duck' (duck can mean to avoid).
'fish' becomes 'ling' (ling is a kind of fish).
'duck'+'ling'='DUCKLING'

'offering' is the link.

(Other definitions for duckling that I've seen before include "Young swimming bird" , "Young mallard, for instance" , "little fowl" , "Young waterfowl" , "Young swimmer" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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