Crossword Genius

Question troubles birds (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

quails

'birds' is the definition.
(quail is a kind of bird)

'question troubles' is the wordplay.
'question' becomes 'qu'.
'troubles' becomes 'ails' (as verb).
'qu'+'ails'='QUAILS'

(Other definitions for quails that I've seen before include "Small game birds" , "Game birds - shows fear" , "Flinches" , "Cringes before the game birds" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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