Today’s Strands (game #589) lands on a clear theme: “Bring binoculars.” It’s a bird-forward grid with an official difficulty rating of easy. The puzzle rolls out at midnight in your time zone and you can play it on the NYT Games site at nytimes.com/games/strands.

Strands #589 at a glance

Item Details
Date Monday, October 13, 2025
Game number #589
Theme “Bring binoculars”
Official difficulty Easy
Spangram letter count 14
Spangram path hint Touches the top (6th column) and the bottom (1st column)

Light hints (no spoilers)

  • Every themed entry is a bird you might spot during fall.
  • Expect a mix: small songbirds, common waterfowl, and a raptor.
  • The spangram sums up a seasonal movement you’d watch with binoculars.

Unlock the in‑game hints

If you want to trigger Strands’ built‑in hint system quickly, these throwaway words will register and help you bank hints:

  • NOTION
  • TARE
  • SWIM
  • WASH
  • BRAG
  • CUBE

Note: Entering valid non‑theme words in the grid earns hints; every three non‑theme finds unlock one automatic reveal on the board.

Spangram length and path (still spoiler‑light)

  • 14 letters total.
  • It spans the board, touching the top edge (6th column) and ends on the bottom edge (1st column).

Spangram answer (spoiler)

FALLMIGRATION

Today’s Strands answers (spoilers)

  • FINCH
  • HAWK
  • GOOSE
  • DUCK
  • WARBLER
  • WREN
  • THRUSH
  • Spangram: FALLMIGRATION

Quick refresher on Strands rules

  • Daily 6×8 letter grid; every letter gets used by the end.
  • Find theme words in straight lines in any direction, including diagonals.
  • One “spangram” captures the theme and must touch two opposite sides.
  • You can bank hints by submitting valid non‑theme words of at least four letters; every three earns a reveal.

If you’re still mid-solve, start with shorter bird names to carve out space, then thread the longer entries through what’s left. The spangram often snaps into place once you’ve cleared a lane along the edges. And if you just want to play, you’ll find today’s grid on the NYT Games Strands page.