Crossword Genius

Stephen Spender's caged birds (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

hens

'birds' is the definition.
(hen is a type of bird)

'stephen spender's caged' is the wordplay.
'caged' indicates a hidden word.
'HENS' is hidden in the letters of 'stephen spenders'.

(Other definitions for hens that I've seen before include "Female chickens" , "Female birds" , "Poultry" , "Adult chickens" , "Birds kept for laying" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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