A very encouraging old bird? (4)
I believe the answer is:
dodo
This clue could be a double definition.
'a very encouraging' is the first definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot see how they can define each other.
'old bird?' is the second definition.
(extinct bird)
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for dodo that I've seen before include "silly person" , "one very dead!" , "Flightless bird, extinct since the 17th century" , "Large extinct bird" , "Old-fashioned person" .)