Butcherbird with high-pitched cry turning tail? (6)
I believe the answer is:
shrike
'butcherbird' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
I can't explain the remainder of the clue.
(Other definitions for shrike that I've seen before include "Butcher bird" , "Songbird with a heavy hooked bill" , "Predatory songbird" , "Shriek like kind of bird" , "Butcherbird" .)