NYT Strands for June 26, 2025: Today’s Theme, Hints, Answers, and Spangram

The New York Times' puzzle lineup continues to grow, and Strands is the latest brain-teasing addition. Launched to blend the challenge of crossword puzzles with the wordplay of Spelling Bee and Connections, Strands offers a fresh daily theme, a 6x8 letter grid, and a central Spangram that unlocks the puzzle’s concept.

🎯 Today’s Theme: Fowl Business

In today’s Strands puzzle, the theme “Fowl Business” sets the stage for a collection of bird-related answers—especially those associated with hunting or food.

🧩 Hints for NYT Strands – June 26, 2025

Need a nudge before seeing the full answer? Here are your clues:

• Spangram Hint: Wild birds hunted for sport or food.
• Word Hint #1: A large bird with a fan-like tail, often a feast centerpiece.
• Word Hint #2: A honking bird known for flying in V-formations.

✅ Strands Puzzle Answers

Here are the theme words for today’s puzzle:

• TURKEY
• GOOSE
• QUAIL
• PHEASANT
• PARTRIDGE
• GROUSE

🟨 Spangram: GAMEBIRDS – the key term tying today’s puzzle together, touching two opposite sides of the grid.

🎮 What Is NYT Strands?

Strands is a word-finding game where players connect letters to form words based on a daily theme. The objective is to identify:

• All theme words (highlighted in blue once found)
• One Spangram (highlighted in yellow), which reflects the puzzle’s main theme and stretches from one side of the board to the other

Players can earn hints by uncovering non-theme words, helping guide them toward hidden theme words.

🧠 Tips for Playing NYT Strands

• Find the Spangram early: It can help uncover the broader theme.
• Use letter patterns: Diagonal, vertical, and horizontal word paths are all valid.
• Look for familiar clusters: Common bird names or theme-related terms can emerge from groupings of letters.
• Get clues from off-topic words: Every three non-theme words give you a hint toward a correct one.