Bird in net picked up

Latest answer — September 24, 2026

8 Down

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Clue explained

ERNE is a bird, specifically a sea eagle. It is a homophone of EARN, meaning “net” as a verb, with “picked up” indicating that the sound is heard rather than read.

Clue type:
Pun or wordplay
A white-tailed sea eagle, also called an erne.

Telegraph Cryptic Crossword

This clue's Thursday, September 24, 2026 appearance

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

Across

  1. 1Supporters being rowdy at stadium, initially
  2. 4Borders with shade for butterfly
  3. 10Fight eruption emptied bar
  4. 11Russian leader is installed
  5. 12Guard posted next to railway
  6. 13A racket around tenement's first floor
  7. 16Tour of Queen wearing crown
  8. 17Guarantee from all to clear off
  9. 20Elope with single partner being proper
  10. 21Former capital of Italy?
  11. 23Stone jar keeping cool in recess
  12. 25Thus African country is African
  13. 28Trunks decay around soil, oddly
  14. 29Sweetheart, joking, putting kit on
  15. 30Blissful activity embracing blonde
  16. 31Backing stake for unpredictable mount?

Down

  1. 2Withdrawing some acupuncture can tingle
  2. 3Escort from Lord protecting Queen
  3. 4Thrash hard, possibly in sauna
  4. 5Lure Tories out, undecided
  5. 6Holds up drinks, purchasing drink
  6. 7Temper, losing head regularly
  7. 8Bird in net picked up
  8. 9Changeable relative's undergoing change
  9. 14Dedication of note about Cambridge University
  10. 15Bending in empty grasslands for leftovers
  11. 18Fall of rain out in wild
  12. 19Reputation still rising
  13. 22Stop, please, not entirely getting upset!
  14. 24Country is source of Russian river
  15. 26Endless work for boss
  16. 27Amusing day in pool

The answer to “Bird in net picked up” in the The Telegraph Cryptic crossword is ERNE — a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Telegraph Cryptic crossword on September 24, 2026, a Thursday puzzle, at 8-Down. 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.

“Bird in net picked up” answer

ERNE (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 ERNE.

What does ERNE mean?

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

(noun)

  • the sea eagle

When else has “Bird in net picked up” appeared?

The Telegraph Cryptic 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.

September 24, 2026 (most recent) → ERNE. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Bird in net picked up”?

The answer is ERNE, a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Telegraph Cryptic crossword on September 24, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Bird in net picked up”?

4 letters: ERNE.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Telegraph Cryptic crossword on September 24, 2026 (a Thursday puzzle), at 8-Down.

Can “Bird in net picked up” have a different answer?

Yes — The Telegraph Cryptic 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 Telegraph Cryptic answers?

The full grid for September 24, 2026 is on the Telegraph Cryptic answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

The Telegraph Cryptic Crossword is published by The Telegraph; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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