Delicate female bird (5)
I believe the answer is:
frail
'delicate' is the definition.
('frail' can be a synonym of 'delicate')
'female bird' is the wordplay.
'female' becomes 'f' (abbreviation).
'bird' becomes 'rail' (rail is a kind of bird**).
'f'+'rail'='FRAIL'
(Other definitions for frail that I've seen before include "isn't sturdy" , "Feeble - basket" , "old and weak" , "Delicate, fragile" , "American woman" .)