Songbird makes the poor dog flinch (9)
I believe the answer is:
goldfinch
'songbird' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both animals as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I don't see?
'the poor dog flinch' is the wordplay.
'the poor' indicates anagramming the letters.
'dog'+'flinch'='dogflinch'
'dogflinch' with letters rearranged gives 'GOLDFINCH'.
'makes' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for goldfinch that I've seen before include "Singer" , "flier?" , "Small bird with yellow and black wings" , "Bird with yellow body plumage" , "Colourful garden bird" .)