least tern
noun
: a very small black-capped tern (Sterna antillarum) with a white body and forehead that is found chiefly in coastal areas of eastern North America and California
Examples of least tern in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
One of the more interesting challenges facing workers building the roadway was having to adjust their schedule to accommodate an active nesting site of the endangered California least tern, located right on the airfield.
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Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 July 2025
Last Fourth of July, a boater offshore from the Santa Ana River mouth appears to have scared off nesting California least terns by setting off fireworks from their vessel, Orange County Coastkeeper officials said.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 3 July 2025
Coastal Commission staff said during last year’s San Diego fireworks, California least terns and their fledglings became agitated and left their nests to run or fly; staff also said fireworks debris can impair water quality and that wildlife may entangle themselves in the debris, or ingest it.
—Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025
Several species, including black skimmers, least terns, roseate terns and American oystercatchers, have taken to nesting on the plentiful gravel rooftops of buildings near the waterfront.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2024
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Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 July 2025
Last Fourth of July, a boater offshore from the Santa Ana River mouth appears to have scared off nesting California least terns by setting off fireworks from their vessel, Orange County Coastkeeper officials said.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 3 July 2025
Coastal Commission staff said during last year’s San Diego fireworks, California least terns and their fledglings became agitated and left their nests to run or fly; staff also said fireworks debris can impair water quality and that wildlife may entangle themselves in the debris, or ingest it.
—Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025
Several species, including black skimmers, least terns, roseate terns and American oystercatchers, have taken to nesting on the plentiful gravel rooftops of buildings near the waterfront.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for least tern
Cite this Entry
“Least tern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/least%20tern. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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