Degenerate after diamonds getting bird (5)
I believe the answer is:
drake
'bird' is the definition.
(drake is a kind of bird)
'degenerate after diamonds' is the wordplay.
'degenerate' becomes 'rake' (I've seen this before).
'after' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'diamonds' becomes 'd' (abbreviation for the card suit diamonds).
'rake' put after 'd' is 'DRAKE'.
'getting' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for drake that I've seen before include "Nick" , "one at home on the water" , "old sailor" , "Aquatic bird" , "might be after a duck?" .)