This bird sits in the old gum tree (10)

Latest answer — August 26, 2026

21 Across

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Clue explained

KOOKABURRA is the bird in the familiar song lyric “Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree”. The wording “This bird” points to that song reference rather than giving only a zoological definition.

Clue type:
Pop culture
A kookaburra perched on a branch of a gum tree

Guardian Quick Crossword

This clue's Wednesday, August 26, 2026 appearance

Tap a square to reveal a letter.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1Witch carrier (10)
  2. 7Italian bread (8)
  3. 8Suddenly comprehend - thin woody shoot (4)
  4. 9Helen of ___ (4)
  5. 10Vividly descriptive - chip rag (anag) (7)
  6. 12These use sunlight to generate electricity (5,6)
  7. 14Machine-readable stripes - how to behave in a pub? (7)
  8. 16Ado (4)
  9. 19Dejected (4)
  10. 20Happening intermittently (2,3,3)
  11. 21This bird sits in the old gum tree (10)

Down

  1. 1Raise (morale) (5)
  2. 2Experiencing continuous streak of good luck (2,1,4)
  3. 3Jeer (4)
  4. 4Refreshment stop (3,5)
  5. 5Snip into pieces (3,2)
  6. 6___ Black (Harry Potter) - Dog Star (6)
  7. 11Traffic jam, standstill (8)
  8. 12Tiny underwear? (6)
  9. 13Country in South America - road cue (anag) (7)
  10. 15Brooch, role or ware (5)
  11. 17Capital of Bulgaria (5)
  12. 18Young sheep (4)

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Witch carrier (10) — Answer: BROOMSTICK. Hint: Picture the long-handled vehicle famously used by witches 🧙
  2. 7. Italian bread (8) — Answer: FOCACCIA. Hint: Think of a flat, dimpled Italian loaf often topped with herbs and oil 🍞
  3. 8. Suddenly comprehend - thin woody shoot (4) — Answer: TWIG. Hint: This word can mean both having a sudden realization and a slender branch 🌿
  4. 9. Helen of ___ (4) — Answer: TROY. Hint: Think of the ancient city at the heart of Helen’s legendary tale 🏛️
  5. 10. Vividly descriptive - chip rag (anag) (7) — Answer: GRAPHIC. Hint: Look for a word describing imagery or writing that is strikingly clear and expressive ✍️
  6. 12. These use sunlight to generate electricity (5,6) — Answer: SOLARPANELS. Hint: Look for rooftop devices that turn sunshine into usable power ☀️
  7. 14. Machine-readable stripes - how to behave in a pub? (7) — Answer: BARCODE. Hint: Combine the striped product label with a playful reference to pub etiquette 🛒
  8. 16. Ado (4) — Answer: FUSS. Hint: This means unnecessary excitement or commotion 😵
  9. 19. Dejected (4) — Answer: GLUM. Hint: Think of a short word for feeling low and gloomy 🌧️
  10. 20. Happening intermittently (2,3,3) — Answer: ONANDOFF. Hint: Something occurring with pauses between episodes is described this way 🔄
  11. 21. This bird sits in the old gum tree (10) — Answer: KOOKABURRA. Hint: Recall the laughing Australian bird from the familiar song 🎶

Down

  1. 1. Raise (morale) (5) — Answer: BOOST. Hint: To lift someone’s spirits is to give them this kind of encouragement 🚀
  2. 2. Experiencing continuous streak of good luck (2,1,4) — Answer: ONAROLL. Hint: A lucky person enjoying repeated successes is described this way 🎲
  3. 3. Jeer (4) — Answer: MOCK. Hint: To taunt or ridicule someone is to do this 😏
  4. 4. Refreshment stop (3,5) — Answer: TEABREAK. Hint: Think of a brief workplace pause for a warm drink ☕
  5. 5. Snip into pieces (3,2) — Answer: CUTUP. Hint: As a verb, this means to divide something into smaller pieces with scissors ✂️
  6. 6. ___ Black (Harry Potter) - Dog Star (6) — Answer: SIRIUS. Hint: The same name belongs to Harry Potter’s godfather and the brightest star in the night sky ⭐
  7. 11. Traffic jam, standstill (8) — Answer: GRIDLOCK. Hint: Picture vehicles completely trapped with no road movement 🚗
  8. 12. Tiny underwear? (6) — Answer: SMALLS. Hint: This cheeky plural can mean both little things and undergarments 🩲
  9. 13. Country in South America - road cue (anag) (7) — Answer: ECUADOR. Hint: Find the South American nation suggested by a scrambled phrase about a roadway signal 🛣️
  10. 15. Brooch, role or ware (5) — Answer: CAMEO. Hint: Think of a small decorative brooch that also means a brief appearance or role. 🎭
  11. 17. Capital of Bulgaria (5) — Answer: SOFIA. Hint: Look to the Bulgarian capital for this answer. 🏛️
  12. 18. Young sheep (4) — Answer: LAMB. Hint: A young sheep is a familiar farmyard sight. 🐑

The answer to “This bird sits in the old gum tree (10)” in the The Guardian Quick crossword is KOOKABURRA — a 10-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Guardian Quick crossword on August 26, 2026, a Wednesday puzzle, at 21-Across. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“This bird sits in the old gum tree (10)” answer

KOOKABURRA (10 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is KOOKABURRA.

What does KOOKABURRA mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of KOOKABURRA is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(noun)

  • a very large Australasian kingfisher that feeds on terrestrial prey such as reptiles and birds

When else has “This bird sits in the old gum tree (10)” appeared?

The Guardian Quick reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

August 26, 2026 (most recent) → KOOKABURRA. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “This bird sits in the old gum tree (10)”?

The answer is KOOKABURRA, a 10-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Guardian Quick crossword on August 26, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “This bird sits in the old gum tree (10)”?

10 letters: KOOKABURRA.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Guardian Quick crossword on August 26, 2026 (a Wednesday puzzle), at 21-Across.

Can “This bird sits in the old gum tree (10)” have a different answer?

Yes — The Guardian Quick sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's Guardian Quick answers?

The full grid for August 26, 2026 is on the Guardian Quick answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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