May 22, 2026 Mini / 1A / 3 letters
Puzzle clues NYT Mini Crossword
"___ Birds" (Hitchcock film that suggests this puzzle's theme) NYT Crossword Clue
Use the hint first, then reveal the answer only if you need it.
Hint
The blank is doing most of the work here. Look for a 3-letter entry that completes the phrase naturally.
How to solve it
Read the clue type first
For the clue: "___ Birds" (Hitchcock film that suggests this puzzle's theme), first identify whether the wording is direct, referential, abbreviated, or playful. This one is best treated as a fill-in-the-blank.
- The blank is doing most of the work here. Look for a 3-letter entry that completes the phrase naturally.
- At 3 letters, this is a compact entry, so one crossing letter can change the solve quickly.
- This clue appears at 1A in the NYT Mini Crossword, so check the Down crossings for confirmation.
Reveal Answer Hide Answer
THE
Explanation
Why This Answer Fits
THE is the 3-letter answer for the clue: "___ Birds" (Hitchcock film that suggests this puzzle's theme). The answer supplies the missing word or phrase in the clue, so reading the clue aloud with the answer inserted is the quickest check. In this NYT Mini Crossword, it appears at 1A, so the crossing entries help verify the exact spelling.
- Grid entry: THE in the grid.
- Answer pattern: _ _ _.
- Clue type: Fill-in-the-blank.
- THE has 3 letters, matching the required slot for 1A.
Answer history
Other NYT Crossword Clues Using THE
We have not seen many previous NYT clues for this answer yet.
View all THE clues Position 1A
Answer length 3
Puzzle type Mini
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History
Clue History
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