Bird, female bird of prey (4)
I believe the answer is:
fowl
'bird' is the definition.
(fowl is a kind of bird)
'female bird of prey' is the wordplay.
'female' becomes 'f' (abbreviation).
'bird of prey' becomes 'owl' (owl is a kind of bird of prey**).
'f'+'owl'='FOWL'
(Other definitions for fowl that I've seen before include "Cock or hen" , "eg Chicken" , "Poultry bird" , "Any farmyard bird" , "Bird kept for eggs and meat" .)