Shift gear with artist backing little singer (10)

I believe the answer is:

budgerigar

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'little singer' is the definition.
'budgerigar' can be an answer for 'singer' (budgerigar is a kind of birdanimal). I am not sure about the 'little' bit.

'shift gear with artist backing' is the wordplay.
'shift' becomes 'budge' (synonyms).
'gear' becomes 'rig' (rig is a kind of gear).
'with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'artist' becomes 'RA' (Royal Academician, member of Royal Academy of Arts).
'backing' says the letters should be written backwards.
'ra' written backwards gives 'ar'.
'budge'+'rig'+'ar'='BUDGERIGAR'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for budgerigar that I've seen before include "flighty type" , "Australian parakeet" , "Flier" , "Aussie native" , "Popular cage-bird" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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