Is the simile phrase:
flying like a bird
an example of collocation, with the close ‘expected’ relationship between flying and bird?
Answer
Well, according to Google Ngrams the expression "fly like a bird" (blue line) is by miles, more common than "fly like a plane" (green line); "fly like an insect" (which turned up no results) and "fly like a butterfly" (yellow line). Tushar Raj's suggestions: "fly like an arrow"(purple) and "fly like an eagle" (red) which fared slightly better than the former; however, neither came close to the OP's simile. Consequently, I'd say that fly like a bird is a very common simile and collocation of two words: fly and bird. It is so frequently heard and used that nowadays, many would classify it as a worn out cliché.
Another Ngram shows the results in descending order using Google's wildcard
Interestingly, there was the simile "fly like a swallow" (pink line) which enjoyed its peak between 1887 and 1889. The results show different publications containing Honoré de Balzac's story The Exiles
When the rustle of the Countess' approach was audible, a boatman suddenly stood up, helped the fair laundress to take her seat in it, and rowed with such strength as to make the boat fly like a swallow down the stream.
Richard Nordquist, noted linguist, writes
collocation (words)
Definition:A familiar grouping of words, especially words that habitually appear together and thereby convey meaning by association.
Collocational range refers to the set of items that typically accompany a word. The size of a collocational range is partially determined by a word's level of specificity and number of meanings.
Similar clichés using VERB+LIKE+A+NOUN are:
- cry like a baby
- drink like a fish
- eat like a bird
- eat like a pig
- fit like a glove
- fly like a bird
- grow like Topsy
- laugh like a drain
- sing like a bird
- sink like a stone
- smile like a Cheshire cat
- swear like a trooper
- swim like a fish
- sweat like a pig
- watch like a hawk
Source: Wiktionary
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