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January 2026

The following clue is for a bird

Verbalizing the beats in music (including Rhythm ’n’ Blues) (4,7)

I can see two possible answers fit the letter count
Reed Warbler
Corn Bunting
but can parse either.
Help please.

It’s corn bunting. R’n’B inside counting.

Corn Bunting has Counting, verbalising the beats, with RNB, R 'n' B, rhythm and blues, inside.

Thank you both

Thanks, Quizzer - I think quisling might have given the parsing the last time this was answered, but I was/am too busy to check!

Thank you Malone and Quisling - you're wonderful, but how about the third one?
Insect or creepy-crawly
"So called because it eats, shoots and leaves? (4)"

If SLUG is correct, then why? if not, then what?

The deadline looms

A slug is also fired from a gun?

Yes, but a slug doesn't shoot, a slug is shot (passive) It just doesn't seem to fit. I feel I'm missing something somewhere, but thank you for your input