Bird in smaller nest (4)
I believe the answer is:
erne
'bird' is the definition.
(erne is a type of bird)
'in smaller nest' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates a hidden word.
'ERNE' is hidden within 'smaller nest'.
(Other definitions for erne that I've seen before include "Sea-eagle in an Irish lake" , "flyer in the main" , "Irish river - sea eagle" , "Lough of the North" , "Fish-eating sea eagle" .)