Uncouth person grabbing tail of skittish bird (8)

I believe the answer is:

pheasant

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'bird' is the definition.
(I know that pheasant is a type of gallinacean)

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for pheasant that I've seen before include "Ant heaps (anag.)" , "Wildfowl" , "Large game bird" , "Long-tailed gamebirds, male has bright feathers" , "Colourful game bird" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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