Possible Clues:

• Bird, in French then in Greek, gaining height
• Seed-eating songbird
• Grumpy creature crossing Severn regularly with fine bird
• In Malta, this songbird is thought of as prestigious, and domesticated
• Bird (European) found in French gin after processing
• Songbird
• Large seed-eater
• Part of course by fellow in Switzerland for flighty creature
• Her fencing (anag.)