Avian metaphor for a romantic couple

Editorially verified for the Mar 23, 2026

25 Across

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NYT Crossword

This clue's Monday, March 23, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Mark of an old injury
  2. 5Some Egyptian reptiles
  3. 9Sleep in the great outdoors, say
  4. 13"The ___ Game" (song that begins "Shirley Shirley bo-berley, bonana fanna fo-ferley"
  5. 14Smell really bad
  6. 15Reef around a lagoon
  7. 17Popular character actor in both "The Godfather" and "Barney Miller"
  8. 19Expression of proportion
  9. 20Gold seeker's tool
  10. 21Guided visit
  11. 22They save the day
  12. 23Viscous goo
  13. 25Avian metaphor for a romantic couple
  14. 27Short-term employee, informally
  15. 29Anger
  16. 30Two of a kind
  17. 32Waffle House alternative
  18. 35Divas' big moments
  19. 40Part of the federal government that includes the presidency
  20. 43Amber or myrrh
  21. 44___ a soul (nobody at all)
  22. 45Slushy frozen treat brand
  23. 46Bummed out
  24. 48Comfort
  25. 50Cinema lover
  26. 56Partners for ladies, informally
  27. 59Works of Rossini and Bellini
  28. 60Running behind schedule
  29. 62Helpful hint
  30. 63Move with swagger
  31. 64Off-putting aura ... or what 17-, 25-, 40- and 50-Across each have?
  32. 66Move with stealth
  33. 67Farmland area unit
  34. 68Satanic
  35. 69Must-have
  36. 70Kind of terrier named after a Scottish island
  37. 71Shade of green named after a duck

Down

  1. 1Sounds made with the fingers (quick!)
  2. 2Shadowy plotting group
  3. 3Offerings on a hotel list
  4. 4Race, as an engine
  5. 5Best Picture Oscar winner set partially in Iran
  6. 6Korean city that hosted the 1988 Summer Olympics
  7. 7Pascal of "The Mandalorian"
  8. 8Reggae-adjacent genre
  9. 9Faddish 1980s plush toy
  10. 10Company behind the game Centipede
  11. 11___ Trend (magazine that chooses a Car of the Year annually)
  12. 12Worked at, as a trade
  13. 16Profit's counterpart
  14. 18Tabloid twosome
  15. 22That lady
  16. 24Thanks, en français
  17. 26Onetime Dodge sports car ... or a creature to be dodged
  18. 28Poe's "The ___ and the Pendulum"
  19. 30The "p" of r.p.m.
  20. 31Lumberjack's tool
  21. 33Like about 80% of Indians, religiously
  22. 34Some reproductive cells
  23. 36Poker player's option
  24. 37Carrot on a stick, metaphorically
  25. 38Expert pilot
  26. 39That lady
  27. 41Voted out of office
  28. 42Pass on a tournament schedule
  29. 47Muscles in a six-pack
  30. 49Got older
  31. 50"Carpet" on a forest floor
  32. 51Agree to accept marketing emails, say
  33. 52Salsa ___ (condiment that might include tomatillos and cilantro)
  34. 53Gloating winner's proclamation
  35. 54Tiny particle
  36. 55Tinker Bell, for one
  37. 57Lower leg bone
  38. 58Compete in a bee
  39. 61Home for a nest
  40. 64Used to be
  41. 65Animal doc

The answer to “Avian metaphor for a romantic couple” in the New York Times crossword is LOVEBIRDS — a 9-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on March 23, 2026, a Monday puzzle, at 25-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.

“Avian metaphor for a romantic couple” answer

LOVEBIRDS (9 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 LOVEBIRDS.

Why the answer is LOVEBIRDS

LOVEBIRDS is the 9-letter solution that fits "Avian metaphor for a romantic couple" in the NYT Crossword crossword on March 23, 2026 (25-Across). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

What does LOVEBIRDS mean?

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

(noun)

  • a very small African and Madagascan parrot with mainly green plumage and typically a red or black face, noted for the affectionate behaviour of mated birds
  • an openly affectionate couple

When else has “Avian metaphor for a romantic couple” appeared?

New York Times 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.

March 23, 2026 (most recent) → LOVEBIRDS. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Avian metaphor for a romantic couple”?

The answer is LOVEBIRDS, a 9-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on March 23, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Avian metaphor for a romantic couple”?

9 letters: LOVEBIRDS.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on March 23, 2026 (a Monday puzzle), at 25-Across.

Can “Avian metaphor for a romantic couple” have a different answer?

Yes — New York Times 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 NYT Crossword answers?

The full grid for March 23, 2026 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

New York Times Crossword is published by The New York Times; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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