Bird was first to be named (6)
I believe the answer is:
titled
'be named' is the definition.
('titled' can be similar in meaning to 'named')
'bird was first' is the wordplay.
'bird' becomes 'tit' (I've seen this before).
'was first' becomes 'led'.
'tit'+'led'='TITLED'
'to' is the link.
(Other definitions for titled that I've seen before include "Like a duke, say" , "Like members of the nobility" , "Like posh fellow" , "as duke and duchess are?" , "peer?" .)