Stroke bird, for example (7)
I believe the answer is:
pattern
'example' is the definition.
(pattern is a kind of example)
'stroke bird' is the wordplay.
'stroke' becomes 'pat' (I have seen 'Gentle stroke ' mean 'pat' so perhaps 'stroke' could also mean 'pat'**).
'bird' becomes 'tern' (tern is a kind of bird).
'pat'+'tern'='PATTERN'
'for' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for pattern that I've seen before include "Example; decorate" , "typical example" , "Repeated decorative design" , "Model or design from which to make clothes, say" , "Shape or design" .)