Bird wife precooked, for a change (10)
I believe the answer is:
woodpecker
'bird' is the definition.
(woodpecker is a kind of bird)
'wife precooked for a change' is the wordplay.
'wife' becomes 'w'.
'for a change' indicates anagramming the letters.
'precooked' with letters rearranged gives 'oodpecker'.
'w'+'oodpecker'='WOODPECKER'
(Other definitions for woodpecker that I've seen before include "Knocking bird" , "Bird that drills holes" , "Tapping bird" .)