Bird of prey picked up vegetable, strong in grip (7)
I believe the answer is:
kestrel
'bird of prey' is the definition.
(kestrel is a kind of bird of prey)
'picked up vegetable strong in grip' is the wordplay.
'picked up' is a reversal indicator.
'vegetable' becomes 'leek' (leek is a kind of vegetable).
'strong' becomes 'str' (abbreviation for strong).
'in grip' indicates putting letters inside.
'leek' back-to-front is 'keel'.
'keel' placed around 'str' is 'KESTREL'.
(Other definitions for kestrel that I've seen before include "It takes mice" , "High flier" , "Small type of falcon" , "Falco tinnuculus" , "Falcon that hovers" .)