Metal bird without wings attached (4)
I believe the answer is:
iron
'metal' is the definition.
(iron is a metal)
'bird without wings attached' is the wordplay.
'without wings' indicates the central letters (the letters on the edges might be called wings).
'attached' becomes 'on' (I've seen this in other clues).
The middle of 'bird' is 'ir'.
'ir'+'on'='IRON'
(Other definitions for iron that I've seen before include "Press clothes" , "inflexible > club" , "The metallic element plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood" , "sort of club" , "Smooth - metal" .)