Ruth's top removed by leggy bird (5)

I believe the answer is:

egret

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'bird' is the definition.
(egret is a kind of bird)

I don't understand the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for egret that I've seen before include "Bird eating fish" , "Wading bird like a heron" , "young bird" , "Wader with white plumage" , "Kind of white heron - greet it" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.

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