Bird went in front, like a duke (6)
I believe the answer is:
titled
'front like a duke' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'bird went' is the wordplay.
'bird' becomes 'tit' (tit is a kind of bird).
'went' becomes 'led' (leading is a kind of going).
'tit'+'led'='TITLED'
'in' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for titled that I've seen before include "Given a name" , "as duke and duchess are?" , "Named" , "Upper-class" , "Like a duke, say" .)