Flipping parrots deserved to be split up (9)
I believe the answer is:
separated
'be split up' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'flipping parrots deserved' is the wordplay.
'flipping' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'parrots' becomes 'apes' (I've seen this before).
'deserved' becomes 'rated' ('rate' can be a synonym of 'deserve').
'apes' backwards is 'sepa'.
'sepa'+'rated'='SEPARATED'
'to' is the link.
(Other definitions for separated that I've seen before include "Broke up" , "in different cages?" , "Distinguished -- divided" , "Pulled apart" , "Split" .)