Plucky but unpleasant female? (5)

I believe the answer is:

harpy

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'plucky but unpleasant female?' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both animals as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I don't see?

This is all the clue.

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(Other definitions for harpy that I've seen before include "Ravenous monster -- nagging woman" , "Ferocious woman" , "Filthy beast" , "Greedy woman" , "Rapacious woman-bird" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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