Can “bird” Be Said To Rhyme With “beard”?

Yes, if you call it an imperfect rhyme, para- or half-rhyme. These sound similar but not identical, and are based on having the same consonant sounds but different vowels. The effect created is less definite than that of a full rhyme, and this technique has been used by many poets, especially in the 20th century, to create an atmosphere of mystery and strangeness. Ted Hughes, for instance, rhymes "ice" with "place " and "none" with "solution" in one verse of his poem "The Man Seeking Experience Enqires His Way of a Drop of Water". This creates a contrast with the next verse, which asks for certainty and enlightenment; a mood reflected in the use of full rhymes: "Let us learn of you…Experience has worn or made you anew."
Similar in effect to the imperfect rhyme is assonance, which is based on a similarity of vowel, rather than consonant sounds, as in fool/food, stone/scope. Several assonances in a line of poetry will create a subtle, underlying pattern rather than a strong rhythm.

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