Crossword Genius

Small birds get cold feet (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

quail

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

'small' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot see how one could define the other.

I can't explain the rest of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for quail that I've seen before include "Small bird of the partridge family" , "Game bird - cower" , "Cower before the game-bird?" , "Game bird; flinch" , "See little bird" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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