Called bird then came first (6)
I believe the answer is:
titled
'called' is the definition.
(titling is a kind of calling)
'bird then came first' is the wordplay.
'bird' becomes 'tit' (I've seen this before).
'then' says to put letters next to each other.
'came first' becomes 'led' (I've seen this in other clues).
'tit'+'led'='TITLED'
(Other definitions for titled that I've seen before include "peer?" , "Noble" , "Like posh fellow" , "Having rank" , "Like a duke, say" .)