Crossword Clue: National bird of the US
Here's the answer to the National bird of the US crossword clue, with an explanation and where it has appeared.
Definition & answer: EAGLE
"National bird of the US" points to EAGLE, a 5-letter entry that starts with E and finishes on E and carries 3 vowels. Because every square it occupies also belongs to a down or across answer crossing it, you can often back into EAGLE from the letters around it rather than the clue alone.
Origin & meaning
Eagle comes from the Latin "aquila" by way of Old French. Beyond the bald eagle emblem, it names a golf score of two under par, offering a sporty misdirection.
Common usage
Compact, vowel-friendly answers such as EAGLE are a constructor's staple: they slot into a 5-square space and play nicely in both directions. Solvers who recognize it on sight save real time on the daily puzzle.
Crossword trivia
Eagle belongs to the small vocabulary of words that appear constantly in grids. Because it's only 5 letters, editors can drop it almost anywhere, which is why regular solvers know it on sight.
Stuck on this clue?
Stuck on "National bird of the US"? Don't force it — solve the clues crossing this slot instead. One or two intersecting letters usually make EAGLE obvious. Working from the crossings is the single most useful habit for getting faster.
This clue in different puzzles
The clue "National bird of the US" is just one way to arrive at EAGLE. Across different puzzles and editors you may see the same answer clued as "National bird of the U.S.". Recognizing that a single answer can wear many clues is one of the fastest ways to level up as a solver.
Example sentences
- "Eagle is the kind of answer that clicks the moment you spot one letter."
- "Seeing 'National bird of the US' in the clue list, an experienced solver pencils in EAGLE almost immediately."
- "Once the E was confirmed by the crossing word, EAGLE was the only entry that fit."