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Spoiler warning: The first hint below reveals only the theme; the spangram and complete answer list appear farther down. NYT Strands puzzle #701, dated Monday, February 2, 2026, has the theme “Formidable flock.”
Need a gentle hint?
Think of birds with impressive size or presence. A second nudge: “Wings and beaks.”
Where is the spangram?
The spangram has eight letters and runs horizontally across row five, from the left edge of the board to the right edge.
Full Strands answers for February 2
Spoilers below.
Spangram: BIGBIRDS
Theme answers:
- RHEA
- CONDOR
- OSTRICH
- PELICAN
- PENGUIN
- CASSOWARY
The answer list is arranged for easy scanning, not in board order.
How Strands hints work
In reported general gameplay guidance attributed to The New York Times, players form theme words by dragging or tapping adjacent letters. The spangram describes the theme and touches two opposite sides of the board. Finding three non-theme words earns an in-game hint.
Quick Recap
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