Overact badly, right away getting the bird (6)

I believe the answer is:

avocet

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

I can't explain the remainder of the clue.

(Other definitions for avocet that I've seen before include "Wading bird with upturned bill" , "Shorebird - octave (anag)" , "Black and white Eurasian long-legged wading bird" , "ornithological specimen" , "Long-legged shorebird with upward-curving bill" .)

I've seen this clue in the Independent.

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