Flipping snare by bridle path trapping tail of passing bird (9)
I believe the answer is:
partridge
'bird' is the definition.
(partridge is a kind of bird)
'flipping snare by bridle path trapping tail of passing' is the wordplay.
'flipping' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'snare by' becomes 'trap' (synonyms. I am not sure about the 'by' bit.).
'bridle path' becomes 'ride'.
'trapping' indicates putting letters inside.
'tail of' suggests the final letters.
The last letter of 'passing' is 'g'.
'trap' in reverse letter order is 'part'.
'ride' going around 'g' is 'ridge'.
'part'+'ridge'='PARTRIDGE'
(Other definitions for partridge that I've seen before include "early Christmas present" , "Flier" , "Flighty type" , "Widespread bird" , "Peculiarly apt girder for the game bird" .)