Like Robin, say, by way of article, circling (5)
I believe the answer is:
avian
'like robin say by way of article circling' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'by way of article circling' is the wordplay.
'by way of' becomes 'via' (via means by way of or by means of).
'article' becomes 'an' (indefinite article).
'circling' is an insertion indicator (circling can mean going around or containing).
'via' put inside 'an' is 'AVIAN'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for avian that I've seen before include "Like rails, for example" , "Birdlike" , "Like a booby" , "To do with birds - like a dangerous flu" , "Regarding birds" .)