The New York Times Crossword in Gothic: National Bird-Feeding Month

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National Bird-Feeding Month, Puzzle by Fred Piscop, edited by Will Shortz

If you subscribe to The New York Times on-line Premium Crosswords, you are probably familiar with the monthly bonus puzzle. For the month of February, the title of this fine crossword is National Bird-Feeding Month featuring thirty-something clues containing bird.

Across — 1. Bird’s home, NEST; 8. Bird FARM (aircraft carrier, slangily); 14. “Bird on a WIRE” (1990 Mel Gibson movie; 15. Guitarist Clapton, who was a member of the Yardbirds, ERIC; 16. “It’s a bird! It’s a PLANE! It’s …”; 26. “Bird in a Gilded CAGE”; 32. Bird’s roost, PERCH; 37. “Aura LEE” (old song with the lyrics “as the blackbird in the spring …”); 40. Firebird automaker, PONTIAC; 42. Jailbird, CON; 52. Blue Bird ALL American (School bus model); 65. “FREE Bird” (Lynyrd Skynrd tune); Author A.A., who wrote “a fly can’t bird, but a bird can fly”, MILNE; 68. Bird whose name is a color, TEAL.

Down — 4. Scarlet bird, TANAGER; 5. Flightless bird of New Zealand, KIWI; 6. Bird on a Baltimore baseball cap, ORIOLE; 8. “Birds of a FEATHER …”; 13. Whirlybird, for short, HELO; 23. Bird of prey’s gripper, TALON; 27. Home to a bird of prey, AERIE; 28. Like the extinct elephant bird, GIANT; 30. Bird that lays commercially sold eggs, HEN; 38. “Peter and the Wolf” bird, SASHA; 44. Baby Mixed Beans and CARROTS (Birds Eye offering); 46. Larry Bird’s team, CELTICS; 48. “Stormy” bird, PETREL; 51. Five golden rings, four calling birds, etc., GIFTS; 54. Rara AVIS (rare bird); 56. “The Birds” screenwriter Hunter, EVAN; 58. Rural bird-feeder raider, perhaps, BEAR; 63. Fork-tailed seabird, TERN.

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