Down Under bird that scientists are working to "de-extinct"

Crossword Answer — December 26, 2025

Answer

NYT Crossword

Friday, December 26, 2025

By Andrew Spooner

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NYT Crossword Clues

Across

  1. 1Dawdler
  2. 9Cuts short
  3. 15Typical sight in a bank robbery cartoon
  4. 16Kitsch
  5. 17Doing some theater work
  6. 18Cracked wheat used in tabbouleh
  7. 19One whose beauty is on the inside
  8. 20Whole kit and caboodle
  9. 22___-Latin (like some modern coinages)
  10. 23Plant that's toxic to cats
  11. 24Some babysitters
  12. 25A cold one is unexpected (and usually unappreciated)
  13. 26Since Jan. 1, on a pay stub
  14. 27Tuesday, in French
  15. 28Song commonly performed outdoors
  16. 29Food that can be prepared de canasta
  17. 30___ Tuesday (end of the pre-Lenten season)
  18. 31One toeing the line?
  19. 35Individually
  20. 36Editorialize
  21. 37Overly self-assertive
  22. 38Like a good sponge cake
  23. 39Down Under bird that scientists are working to "de-extinct"
  24. 42Singular, with or without its first letter
  25. 43Origin story family in DC Comics
  26. 44Facility
  27. 45Certain care provider, for short
  28. 46Re-fresh?
  29. 47It might be marked with an X
  30. 48Linked (with)
  31. 50Drive
  32. 52Harden and become resistant to change
  33. 53Life partner, perhaps?
  34. 54Old coin with a picture of Generalissimo Franco
  35. 55Treated with respect

Down

  1. 1How a supervillain might brag
  2. 2Flip
  3. 3Waiting for support, maybe
  4. 4Like untended plots
  5. 5Funeral ___
  6. 6Broad band?
  7. 7Royal Australian Air Force insignia
  8. 8Competition that combines speed with balance
  9. 9Professor Dumbledore
  10. 10Contest
  11. 11Bevy : quail :: parliament : ___
  12. 12The world's end, in Norse mythology
  13. 13Mr. or Ms. Right
  14. 14Baby sitter?
  15. 21Half of a classic rum cocktail's name
  16. 24Component of a nautilus shell
  17. 25Eric who wrote and illustrated "Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me"
  18. 27Stick by a fireplace
  19. 28Mantra
  20. 29Nearby things
  21. 30Like the pope's guards
  22. 31Area on which to eat or play cards
  23. 32"You can absolutely count on me"
  24. 33Figure in sci-fi's "Attack of the 50 Foot Woman," e.g.
  25. 34Great illustrations
  26. 38Connected
  27. 39Sister of Moses
  28. 40Worth considering
  29. 41Made up
  30. 43Nation dubbed the "cradle of mankind"
  31. 44"Understood?"
  32. 46Big break
  33. 47Stack (up)
  34. 49Casting need
  35. 51Short diner order

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Dawdler — Answer: SLOWPOKE
  2. 9. Cuts short — Answer: ABORTS
  3. 15. Typical sight in a bank robbery cartoon — Answer: MONEYBAG
  4. 16. Kitsch — Answer: LOWART
  5. 17. Doing some theater work — Answer: USHERING
  6. 18. Cracked wheat used in tabbouleh — Answer: BULGUR
  7. 19. One whose beauty is on the inside — Answer: GEODE
  8. 20. Whole kit and caboodle — Answer: GAMUT
  9. 22. ___-Latin (like some modern coinages) — Answer: NEO
  10. 23. Plant that's toxic to cats — Answer: LILY
  11. 24. Some babysitters — Answer: NANAS
  12. 25. A cold one is unexpected (and usually unappreciated) — Answer: CALL
  13. 26. Since Jan. 1, on a pay stub — Answer: YTD
  14. 27. Tuesday, in French — Answer: MARDI
  15. 28. Song commonly performed outdoors — Answer: CAROL
  16. 29. Food that can be prepared de canasta — Answer: TACOS
  17. 30. ___ Tuesday (end of the pre-Lenten season) — Answer: SHROVE
  18. 31. One toeing the line? — Answer: TIGHTROPEWALKER
  19. 35. Individually — Answer: APIECE
  20. 36. Editorialize — Answer: OPINE
  21. 37. Overly self-assertive — Answer: BRASH
  22. 38. Like a good sponge cake — Answer: MOIST
  23. 39. Down Under bird that scientists are working to "de-extinct" — Answer: MOA
  24. 42. Singular, with or without its first letter — Answer: LONE
  25. 43. Origin story family in DC Comics — Answer: KENTS
  26. 44. Facility — Answer: GIFT
  27. 45. Certain care provider, for short — Answer: EMT
  28. 46. Re-fresh? — Answer: RETRO
  29. 47. It might be marked with an X — Answer: PORNO
  30. 48. Linked (with) — Answer: TIEDIN
  31. 50. Drive — Answer: AMBITION
  32. 52. Harden and become resistant to change — Answer: OSSIFY
  33. 53. Life partner, perhaps? — Answer: CELLMATE
  34. 54. Old coin with a picture of Generalissimo Franco — Answer: PESETA
  35. 55. Treated with respect — Answer: ESTEEMED

Down

  1. 1. How a supervillain might brag — Answer: SMUGLY
  2. 2. Flip — Answer: LOSEIT
  3. 3. Waiting for support, maybe — Answer: ONHOLD
  4. 4. Like untended plots — Answer: WEEDY
  5. 5. Funeral ___ — Answer: PYRE
  6. 6. Broad band? — Answer: OBI
  7. 7. Royal Australian Air Force insignia — Answer: KANGAROO
  8. 8. Competition that combines speed with balance — Answer: EGGANDSPOONRACE
  9. 9. Professor Dumbledore — Answer: ALBUS
  10. 10. Contest — Answer: BOUT
  11. 11. Bevy : quail :: parliament : ___ — Answer: OWL
  12. 12. The world's end, in Norse mythology — Answer: RAGNAROK
  13. 13. Mr. or Ms. Right — Answer: TRUELOVE
  14. 14. Baby sitter? — Answer: STROLLER
  15. 21. Half of a classic rum cocktail's name — Answer: MAI
  16. 24. Component of a nautilus shell — Answer: NACRE
  17. 25. Eric who wrote and illustrated "Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me" — Answer: CARLE
  18. 27. Stick by a fireplace — Answer: MATCH
  19. 28. Mantra — Answer: CHANT
  20. 29. Nearby things — Answer: THESE
  21. 30. Like the pope's guards — Answer: SWISS
  22. 31. Area on which to eat or play cards — Answer: TABLETOP
  23. 32. "You can absolutely count on me" — Answer: IPROMISE
  24. 33. Figure in sci-fi's "Attack of the 50 Foot Woman," e.g. — Answer: GIANTESS
  25. 34. Great illustrations — Answer: EPITOMES
  26. 38. Connected — Answer: MET
  27. 39. Sister of Moses — Answer: MIRIAM
  28. 40. Worth considering — Answer: OFNOTE
  29. 41. Made up — Answer: ATONED
  30. 43. Nation dubbed the "cradle of mankind" — Answer: KENYA
  31. 44. "Understood?" — Answer: GOTME
  32. 46. Big break — Answer: RIFT
  33. 47. Stack (up) — Answer: PILE
  34. 49. Casting need — Answer: DIE
  35. 51. Short diner order — Answer: BLT

The answer to “Down Under bird that scientists are working to "de-extinct"” in the New York Times crossword is MOA — a 3-letter word. This clue ran in the New York Times crossword on December 26, 2025, a Friday puzzle, at 39-Across. If it's the entry standing between you and a clean grid, that's the word you need — and below you'll find why it fits, plus links to the day's other clues if more than one square is giving you trouble.

“Down Under bird that scientists are working to "de-extinct"” answer

MOA (3 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 MOA.

Why the answer is MOA

MOA is the 3-letter solution that fits "Down Under bird that scientists are working to "de-extinct"" in the NYT Crossword crossword on December 26, 2025 (39-Across). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

When else has “Down Under bird that scientists are working to "de-extinct"” 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 before, and what the answer was each time — handy if you landed here from a puzzle on another date.

December 26, 2025 (this puzzle) → MOA. We haven't indexed an earlier appearance of this exact clue yet.

More clues from the NYT Crossword crossword on December 26, 2025

Stuck elsewhere in the grid? Here are some of the crossing and nearby clues from the same puzzle — tap any for its answer and explanation.

Want every clue in one place? The full New York Times answer list for December 26, 2025 is on that day's grid page, and today's live NYT Crossword answers are always one tap from the today page.

About the NYT Crossword

The New York Times crossword, edited by Will Shortz, is the most famous daily puzzle in the United States. It runs a 15×15 grid Monday through Saturday and a larger 21×21 grid on Sunday, and its difficulty deliberately ramps through the week: Monday is the most approachable, Saturday the toughest, with Thursday often reserved for a trick or twist like rebus squares. This page covers a Friday puzzle. A straight-definition entry is the kind of solid mid-grid answer that anchors the trickier crossings around it. Because the NYT reuses short, crossing-friendly words regularly, seeing them once makes them easier to spot next time.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Down Under bird that scientists are working to "de-extinct"”?

The answer is MOA, a 3-letter word. It appeared in the New York Times crossword on December 26, 2025.

How many letters is the answer to “Down Under bird that scientists are working to "de-extinct"”?

3 letters: MOA.

Where did this clue appear?

In the New York Times crossword on December 26, 2025 (a Friday puzzle), at 39-Across.

Can “Down Under bird that scientists are working to "de-extinct"” 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 December 26, 2025 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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