Bird seen to cringe (5)
I believe the answer is:
quail
I believe this clue is a double definition.
'bird' is the first definition.
(quail is a kind of bird)
'to cringe' is the second definition.
('quail' can be a synonym of 'cringe')
'seen' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for quail that I've seen before include "Flinch like gamebird" , "Game bird; flinch" , "Show fear - of small game bird?" , "recoil with fear" , "Flinch from small gamebird?" .)