Theme: Birds from around the World

Take flight through a world of remarkable birds, from familiar corvids to tropical wonders.

9 themed words All 26 letters covered Vowels shown in gold Consonants hidden in blue
1
  A  
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  1. A word connected to birds from around the world.
  2. Think of songbird.
  3. A colorful, often noisy member of the crow family.
  4. The answer starts with J and has 3 letters.
Reveal answer
J A Y
Background information
Jays belong to the corvid family and are known for intelligence and food caching.
2
    O  
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  1. A word connected to birds from around the world.
  2. Think of corvid.
  3. An intelligent black bird known for its harsh caw.
  4. The answer starts with C and has 4 letters.
Reveal answer
C R O W
Background information
Crows can recognize human faces and use tools in some species.
3
  U E     A  
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  1. A word connected to birds from around the world.
  2. Think of tropical bird.
  3. A brilliant green-and-red Central American bird with spectacular tail feathers.
  4. The answer starts with Q and has 7 letters.
Reveal answer
Q U E T Z A L
Background information
The resplendent quetzal inhabits Central American cloud forests and is culturally important in the region.
4
O       I    
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  1. A word connected to birds from around the world.
  2. Think of flightless bird.
  3. The largest living bird runs quickly on powerful legs.
  4. The answer starts with O and has 7 letters.
Reveal answer
O S T R I C H
Background information
Ostriches are native to Africa; their strong legs help them run at high speeds.
5
  U     A    
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  1. A word connected to birds from around the world.
  2. Think of bird of prey.
  3. A broad-winged raptor often seen circling overhead.
  4. The answer starts with B and has 7 letters.
Reveal answer
B U Z Z A R D
Background information
In Britain, buzzard commonly refers to Buteo buteo, a widespread soaring raptor.
6
  U     U   E
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  1. A word connected to birds from around the world.
  2. Think of scavenging bird.
  3. This large bird feeds mainly on carrion and helps clean ecosystems.
  4. The answer starts with V and has 7 letters.
Reveal answer
V U L T U R E
Background information
Vultures remove animal carcasses, helping reduce the spread of some pathogens.
7
    A   I     O
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  1. A word connected to birds from around the world.
  2. Think of wading bird.
  3. Its pink coloration comes from pigments in its diet.
  4. The answer starts with F and has 8 letters.
Reveal answer
F L A M I N G O
Background information
Flamingos obtain carotenoid pigments from food; their specialized bills filter-feed in water.
8
O     E     E  
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  1. A word connected to birds from around the world.
  2. Think of African bird.
  3. This bird perches on large mammals and feeds on ticks and other material.
  4. The answer starts with O and has 8 letters.
Reveal answer
O X P E C K E R
Background information
Oxpeckers often feed on parasites on large African mammals, though the relationship can be complex.
9
  I       I     E  
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  1. A word connected to birds from around the world.
  2. Think of fishing bird.
  3. A bright bird that often dives into water to catch fish.
  4. The answer starts with K and has 10 letters.
Reveal answer
K I N G F I S H E R
Background information
Many kingfishers hunt fish by diving, though some species eat insects or other prey.

Birds from around the World: Did You Know?

A very large bird
The ostrich is the largest living bird species.
Cloud-forest jewel
The resplendent quetzal lives in Central American cloud forests.
Helpful scavengers
Vultures play an important ecological role by consuming carcasses.
Why pink?
Flamingos obtain pink pigments from carotenoids in their diet.