Female, a learner needing to study a bird (6)
I believe the answer is:
falcon
'a bird' is the definition.
(falcon is a kind of bird)
'female a learner needing to study' is the wordplay.
'female' becomes 'fa' (I've seen this in other clues).
'a learner' becomes 'l' (as in a learner driver with L-plates on their car).
'needing' says to put letters next to each other.
'to study' becomes 'con' (con can mean to study).
'fa'+'l'+'con'='FALCON'
(Other definitions for falcon that I've seen before include "that's seen flying" , "Kind of hunting bird - peregrine is one" , "high-flyer" , "Hunter winged" , "See 16" .)