Flier, a role model to a motherless man (5)
I believe the answer is:
heron
'flier' is the definition.
(heron is a kind of birdanimal)
'a role model to a motherless man' is the wordplay.
'a role model' becomes 'hero' ('hero' can be a synonym of 'role model').
'to' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'a motherless man' becomes 'n' (knight, a man in chess. I am not sure about the 'motherless' bit.).
'hero'+'n'='HERON'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for heron that I've seen before include "Wading bird with long neck and legs" , "Big bird" , "Graceful grey bird with long neck" , "Grey or white long-legged wading bird" , "Long-legged long-necked wading bird" .)