Bird embarrassed a wife returning (5)
I believe the answer is:
wader
'bird' is the definition.
(I know that wader is a type of aquatic bird)
'embarrassed a wife returning' is the wordplay.
'embarrassed' becomes 'red' (someone may blush or go red when embarrassed).
'wife' becomes 'w' (abbreviation).
'returning' is a reversal indicator.
'red'+'a'+'w'='redaw'
'redaw' backwards is 'WADER'.
(Other definitions for wader that I've seen before include "Bird such as a sandpiper or plover" , "Eg, sandpiper or plover" , "Eg, sandpiper, flamingo" , "Long waterproof boot" , "Snipe maybe" .)