Crossword Genius

Rustic consuming hot game bird (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

pheasant

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

'rustic consuming hot game bird' is the definition.
'pheasant' can be an answer for 'bird' (pheasant is a kind of bird). I also know that 'game' relates to this answer.

'rustic consuming hot game bird' is the wordplay.
'rustic' becomes 'peasant' (peasant is a kind of rustic).
'consuming' is an insertion indicator.
'hot game bird' becomes 'h' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'peasant' going around 'h' is 'PHEASANT'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for pheasant that I've seen before include "Colourful game bird" , "Wildfowl" , "Long-tailed gamebirds, male has bright feathers" , "Ant heaps (anag.)" , "something to pluck?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Independent.
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