Crossword Genius

Cuckoo defends gull both tail-less and unable to fly (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

unfledged

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'fly' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?

I don't understand the remainder of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for unfledged that I've seen is " Lacking feathers".)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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