Songbird destroying leaf, if red (9)

I believe the answer is:

fieldfare

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'songbird' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both animals as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?

'destroying leaf if red' is the wordplay.
'destroying' indicates anagramming the letters.
'leaf'+'if'+'red'='leafifred'
'leafifred' is an anagram of 'FIELDFARE'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for fieldfare that I've seen before include "Deaf flier (anag) - migratory thrush" , "Migratory thrush -- FA ref lied (anag)" , "Speckled bird" , "Flighty singer" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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