Foxy babes holding the lead from English birds (5)

I believe the answer is:

kites

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'birds' is the definition.
(kite is a kind of bird)

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

(Other definitions for kites that I've seen before include "Birds of prey - flying toys" , "More than one toy" , "Small hawks" , "They're flown in the wind at the end of a string" , "Large hawks or flying toys" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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