Ship surrounds pallid waterbirds (5)

I believe the answer is:

swans

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

'waterbirds' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both animals as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'ship surrounds pallid' is the wordplay.
'ship' becomes 'SS' (prefix in ship names eg SS Great Britain).
'surrounds' is an insertion indicator.
'pallid' becomes 'wan' (synonyms).
'ss' enclosing 'wan' is 'SWANS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for swans that I've seen is " Cobs and pens".)

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

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