"The 12 Days of Christmas" bird
Latest answer — October 04, 2026
52 Across
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Clue explained
A dove is one of the birds named in “The 12 Days of Christmas”: the song gives “two turtle doves” on the second day.
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- Definition
NYT Crossword
This clue's Sunday, October 04, 2026 appearance
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The answer to “"The 12 Days of Christmas" bird” in the New York Times crossword is DOVE — a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on October 4, 2026, a Sunday puzzle, at 52-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.
“"The 12 Days of Christmas" bird” answer
DOVE (4 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 DOVE.
What does DOVE mean?
Reading the plain dictionary sense of DOVE is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.
(noun)
- a stocky bird with a small head, short legs, and a cooing voice, feeding on seeds or fruit. Doves are generally smaller and more delicate than pigeons, but many kinds have been given both names
- a person who advocates peaceful or conciliatory policies, especially in foreign affairs
- (in Christian art and poetry) the Holy Spirit (as represented in John 1:32)
When else has “"The 12 Days of Christmas" bird” 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.
October 4, 2026 (most recent) → DOVE. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the answer to “"The 12 Days of Christmas" bird”?
The answer is DOVE, a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on October 4, 2026.
How many letters is the answer to “"The 12 Days of Christmas" bird”?
4 letters: DOVE.
When did this clue appear?
Most recently in the New York Times crossword on October 4, 2026 (a Sunday puzzle), at 52-Across.
Can “"The 12 Days of Christmas" bird” 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 October 4, 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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