Bird house, of course, Spooner says (8)

I believe the answer is:

nuthatch

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'bird' is the definition.
(nuthatch is a kind of bird)

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

(Other definitions for nuthatch that I've seen before include "Small songbird that climbs up and down trees looking for food" , "Songbird feeding on insects and kernels" , "Climbing songbird" , "[FEATHERED FRIEND]" , "warbler?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.

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