Quiet, he meets a small worker with game bird (8)
I believe the answer is:
pheasant
'game bird' is the definition.
(I know that pheasant is a type of phasianid)
'quiet he meets a small worker' is the wordplay.
'quiet' becomes 'p' (music symbol for 'piano', ie soft or quiet).
'meets' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'small' becomes 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size).
'worker' becomes 'ant' (worker is a type of ant).
'p'+'he'+'a'+'s'+'ant'='PHEASANT'
'with' is the link.
(Other definitions for pheasant that I've seen before include "Ant heaps (anag.)" , "Cock" , "Colourful game bird" , "something to pluck?" , "Large game bird" .)