Flapper maiden's skill isn't noticed at first (6)
I believe the answer is:
martin
'flapper' is the definition.
(martin is a kind of birdanimal)
'maiden's skill isn't noticed at first' is the wordplay.
'maiden' becomes 'm' (cricket abbreviation).
'skill' becomes 'art' (both can mean a talent).
'at first' says to take the initial letters.
The initial letters of 'isnt noticed' is 'in'.
'm'+'art'+'in'='MARTIN'
(Other definitions for martin that I've seen before include "Tweeter" , "Short-tailed swallow" , "Martyred civil rights leader" , "-- Chuzzlewit (Dickens)" , "Bird or boy's name" .)