Crossword Genius

Emulate a bird: leave in haste (4,2)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

beat it

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'leave in haste' is the definition.
'beat it' can be an answer for 'leave' (I've seen this before). I am unsure of the 'in haste' bit.

'emulate a bird' is the wordplay.
'emulate' becomes 'bea' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'a bird' becomes 'tit' (tit is a kind of bird).
'bea'+'tit'='BEAT IT'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for beat it that I've seen before include "Scarper" , "try out drum kit?" , "Get going" , "Make off hastily" , "Slang order to go away, get lost" .)

I've seen this clue in The Everyman puzzle in The Observer.
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