Birds in the wilderness (5)

I believe the answer is:

ernes

'birds' is the definition.
(erne is a kind of bird)

'in the wilderness' is the wordplay.
'in' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'ERNES' is hidden within 'wilderness'.

(Other definitions for ernes that I've seen before include "sea eagles" , "They fly across the sea" , "Certain birds" , "Irish lough's" , "Sea-eagles" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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