The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word MEGAPODE
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
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The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does MEGAPODE mean?
MEGAPODE noun- Any of several chicken- or turkey-like birds in the family Megapodiidae, which incubate their eggs by burying them where they receive warmth from decaying vegetation, solar radiation or geothermal heat.
- Characteristic of the Megapodiidae.