Tense little bird hiding garish wings (5)
I believe the answer is:
tight
'tense' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'little bird hiding garish wings' is the wordplay.
'little bird' becomes 'tit' (I've seen this in another clue).
'hiding' indicates putting letters inside.
'wings' suggests removing the centre (the wings or edge letters of the word are used).
'garish' with its middle removed is 'gh'.
'tit' enclosing 'gh' is 'TIGHT'.
(Other definitions for tight that I've seen before include "happy" , "Taut" , "reluctant to part with money" , "Close-fitting; tense" , "South American nation" .)