Hooligans heard shorebirds (5)
I believe the answer is:
ruffs
'shorebirds' is the definition.
(ruff is a kind of shorebird)
I can't explain the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ruffs that I've seen before include "Elizabethan collars" , "More than one frill" , "changes suit for one's benefit" , "Neck frills" .)