NYT Crossword

Nocturnal sounds in the woods

Archive answer — August 8, 2026

12 Across

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Clue explained

“HOOTS” is the published 5-letter fill for 12 Across. Use the crossing letters in the grid below to verify how it fits.

Clue type:
Crossword fill

NYT Crossword

This clue’s Saturday, August 8, 2026 appearance

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Crossword solution grid

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Across

32 clues
  1. 1Fling
  2. 5Garment with a loose, flowing end known as a "pallu"
  3. 9Longtime airer of "The Young and the Restless"
  4. 12Nocturnal sounds in the woodsHOOTS
  5. 14Waffle
  6. 16Woodard with multiple Emmys
  7. 17Author and illustrator of "The Very Hungry Caterpillar"
  8. 18Slippery slope
  9. 20Crowd (in)
  10. 21Summertime top
  11. 23Group of reps
  12. 24Kind of coating applied to metal
  13. 25Go for again
  14. 27Load from the dock
  15. 28University of California campus site
  16. 29Locals call it Mongibello ("the mountain of mountains")
  17. 30O. Henry's "The Gift of the ___"
  18. 31Braided rope made of rawhide
  19. 33Limited
  20. 35"Comprende?"
  21. 36They're taken off for boudoir photos
  22. 38Relieved response
  23. 39Greek dish made with an abundance of spinach
  24. 42La ___ Tar Pits
  25. 44Instrument measuring liquid density
  26. 45French beauty
  27. 47Section of a golf bag
  28. 48Pawn-capturing move
  29. 49Hard French cheese
  30. 50Map lines: Abbr.
  31. 51Giant bird of Chinese mythology that is transformed from a fish called Kun
  32. 52Capone's foe

Down

30 clues
  1. 1Warms up
  2. 2"Fancy!"
  3. 3Warms up, say
  4. 4Word-of-mouth promoters
  5. 5Investment bond in W.W. II
  6. 6During
  7. 7Tries to outrun
  8. 8Forbes competitor
  9. 9Corpus ___
  10. 10Ostentatious spenders, in slang
  11. 11Term of endearment, in one spelling
  12. 13Napkins, to Brits
  13. 14Damn fine
  14. 15Repeated greeting in the Key & Peele sketch "Obama Meet & Greet"
  15. 19Court name
  16. 22Displaying a wide range of emotions, say
  17. 26Founder of Argentina's first female-led political party, familiarly
  18. 28Big name in comfortable footwear
  19. 30Tower with daily calls to prayer
  20. 31Hit from behind
  21. 32Words following a suggestion to try something
  22. 33Warding (off)
  23. 34Perfect example
  24. 35Person you practically have to drag out of a party, say
  25. 36One requesting simpler terms?
  26. 37Channel inserts
  27. 40Short-lived interest
  28. 41Parliamentary seats?
  29. 43Per
  30. 46For a medium, it's easy!

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Every clue links to a dedicated answer page. Use the list below to scan the complete fill without opening the interactive board.

Across

  1. 1. Fling

    Answer: TOSS

  2. 5. Garment with a loose, flowing end known as a "pallu"

    Answer: SARI

  3. 9. Longtime airer of "The Young and the Restless"

    Answer: CBS

  4. 12. Nocturnal sounds in the woods

    Answer: HOOTS

  5. 14. Waffle

    Answer: HEMANDHAW

  6. 16. Woodard with multiple Emmys

    Answer: ALFRE

  7. 17. Author and illustrator of "The Very Hungry Caterpillar"

    Answer: ERICCARLE

  8. 18. Slippery slope

    Answer: WATERSLIDE

  9. 20. Crowd (in)

    Answer: PILE

  10. 21. Summertime top

    Answer: SLEEVELESST

  11. 23. Group of reps

    Answer: SET

  12. 24. Kind of coating applied to metal

    Answer: ANTIRUST

  13. 25. Go for again

    Answer: RETRY

  14. 27. Load from the dock

    Answer: STEEVE

  15. 28. University of California campus site

    Answer: DAVIS

  16. 29. Locals call it Mongibello ("the mountain of mountains")

    Answer: ETNA

  17. 30. O. Henry's "The Gift of the ___"

    Answer: MAGI

  18. 31. Braided rope made of rawhide

    Answer: RIATA

  19. 33. Limited

    Answer: FINITE

  20. 35. "Comprende?"

    Answer: GETME

  21. 36. They're taken off for boudoir photos

    Answer: LENSCAPS

  22. 38. Relieved response

    Answer: AAH

  23. 39. Greek dish made with an abundance of spinach

    Answer: SPANAKOPITA

  24. 42. La ___ Tar Pits

    Answer: BREA

  25. 44. Instrument measuring liquid density

    Answer: HYDROMETER

  26. 45. French beauty

    Answer: BELLEAMIE

  27. 47. Section of a golf bag

    Answer: IRONS

  28. 48. Pawn-capturing move

    Answer: ENPASSANT

  29. 49. Hard French cheese

    Answer: COMTE

  30. 50. Map lines: Abbr.

    Answer: RDS

  31. 51. Giant bird of Chinese mythology that is transformed from a fish called Kun

    Answer: PENG

  32. 52. Capone's foe

    Answer: NESS

Down

  1. 1. Warms up

    Answer: THAWS

  2. 2. "Fancy!"

    Answer: OOLALA

  3. 3. Warms up, say

    Answer: SOFTENS

  4. 4. Word-of-mouth promoters

    Answer: STREETTEAM

  5. 5. Investment bond in W.W. II

    Answer: SERIESE

  6. 6. During

    Answer: AMIDST

  7. 7. Tries to outrun

    Answer: RACES

  8. 8. Forbes competitor

    Answer: INC

  9. 9. Corpus ___

    Answer: CHRISTI

  10. 10. Ostentatious spenders, in slang

    Answer: BALLERS

  11. 11. Term of endearment, in one spelling

    Answer: SWEETY

  12. 13. Napkins, to Brits

    Answer: SERVIETTES

  13. 14. Damn fine

    Answer: HELLUVA

  14. 15. Repeated greeting in the Key & Peele sketch "Obama Meet & Greet"

    Answer: DAP

  15. 19. Court name

    Answer: SERENA

  16. 22. Displaying a wide range of emotions, say

    Answer: TRAGICOMIC

  17. 26. Founder of Argentina's first female-led political party, familiarly

    Answer: EVITAPERON

  18. 28. Big name in comfortable footwear

    Answer: DANSKO

  19. 30. Tower with daily calls to prayer

    Answer: MINARET

  20. 31. Hit from behind

    Answer: REAREND

  21. 32. Words following a suggestion to try something

    Answer: ITHELPS

  22. 33. Warding (off)

    Answer: FENDING

  23. 34. Perfect example

    Answer: EPITOME

  24. 35. Person you practically have to drag out of a party, say

    Answer: GABBER

  25. 36. One requesting simpler terms?

    Answer: LAYMAN

  26. 37. Channel inserts

    Answer: STENTS

  27. 40. Short-lived interest

    Answer: PHASE

  28. 41. Parliamentary seats?

    Answer: ARSES

  29. 43. Per

    Answer: ALA

  30. 46. For a medium, it's easy!

    Answer: ESP

The answer to “Nocturnal sounds in the woods” in the NYT Crossword is HOOTS — a 5-letter word. It appears in our available data for August 8, 2026 at 12-Across. Below you can reveal the fill one letter at a time, check the full puzzle, and open every related clue page.

“Nocturnal sounds in the woods” answer

HOOTS(5 letters)

Prefer a nudge first? Use the letter tiles above to hide and reveal individual characters, or use the focused grid to confirm the crossing letters.

Why does HOOTS fit?

HOOTS is the published 5-letter answer at 12-Across. The highlighted path in the puzzle shows exactly where the entry sits.

When else has “Nocturnal sounds in the woods” appeared?

The same clue can return on another date, sometimes with a different fill. These are the matching appearances in the recent published records available through the Answers API.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Nocturnal sounds in the woods”?

The answer is HOOTS.

How many letters are in the answer?

5 letters: HOOTS.

When did this clue appear?

It appears in the NYT Crossword for August 8, 2026 at 12-Across.

Can this clue have a different answer?

Yes. Crossword clues may be reused with a different fill depending on the grid. Recent matching appearances are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day’s answers?

Open the NYT answers page for August 8, 2026 for the full grid and every clue.

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