Milky by Malva

Puzzle explanation

The thematic answers were all types of bird, for which alternative names were entered in and below the grid. The title and extra words in clues were other meanings of the entered words.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

Extra word (grid entry) Answer Explanation
Thematic clues
  FALCON FAL + CON
  HUMMINGBIRD HUMMING + BIRD
  PETREL PETROL with E for O
  RINGDOVE (ING + D) in ROVE
  SONG THRUSH (S(e)N(d)S + THROUGH) *
  SPARROWHAWK HAWK after (SPAR + ROW)
  VIRGINIAN QUAIL (AUNT LIVING IN IRAQ − N(ewpor)T) *
Other clues
  CONACRE (ON + A + C) in CRE(w)
  URSON (HURON − H) around S
  POMPOM (PO + M) twice
  SCANTLE NT in SCALE
  OUD (f)O(r) (meas)U(ring) (aci)D(ity)
  DILATE DIE around LAT
  ENCARNALISES (CLEARNESS IN A) *
  NAG NAG(a)
arm (MUSKET) PEGH PE + G + H
  OMER O(ctober) + (sum)MER
search (QUEST) EFT (l)EFT
  CARTON-PIERRE (ERROR IN PACKET − K) *
solitary (HERMIT) CHAIRS CH + AIRS
  EYE (min)E + YE(t)
  PINETUM TUM after (P(reparations) + IN + E(cuador))
  RECCES (C(oots) + C) in REES
  ADENI ((tanger)INE DA(shiki)) <
  STEARIN SARIN around TE
  ARCANUM CAN in (A + RUM)
  IONIAN (IN A) * after (l)ION
  NOPALS NO PALS
  AMATI A + MAT + (Rossin)I
pathogen (PRION) ROUP OR < + UP
  EM DASH ’EM + (ce)D(ar) + ASH
  SAUCIER (A CRUISE) *
  PELAGE GE after PELA
  SECRETE SEE around CRET(e)
  GENIPS SEG < around NIP
  GURJUNS (N, S) after GURU around J
Nick (COLIN) OCKERS MOCKERS − M; Nick and Colin are both diminutives of Nicholas
  BOATER BOA(s)TER
  TELEDU LET < + DUE *
  THECA THECLA − L
woman (MAVIS) PYET P(eebles) + YET
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