They’re used to hunt and peck NYT crossword clue

The clue “They’re used to hunt and peck” from the New York Times Mini crossword plays on a double meaning. While the phrase is often used to describe a typing style, the clue leans more toward its original, literal context: the behavior of birds. Birds “hunt and peck” for food, often on the ground, using a specific part of their anatomy designed for this exact function.

The answer is **BEAKS**. This five-letter word refers to the pointed mouths of birds, which they use to search for and eat food—essentially hunting and pecking. The clue cleverly disguises its true intention by referencing a common typing term, but the correct interpretation leads us to the avian world, where beaks are essential tools for survival.