Bird chose rind over pungent base below fruit (6)

I believe the answer is:

avocet

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'bird' is the definition.
(avocet is a kind of bird)

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

(Other definitions for avocet that I've seen before include "Black and white Eurasian long-legged wading bird" , "Long-legged wader" , "Shorebird with bill curving upwards" , "Shorebird - octave (anag)" , "Curved-bill shore bird" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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