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
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.
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Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025
This is part of a larger effort to revitalize the lagoon to buffer against sea level rise and increase habitat for endangered wildlife such as California least terns and a more recent visitor, Eastern Pacific green sea turtles that feed on the lagoon’s eelgrass.
—Jeff Regan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2025
Do the most for the least tern in Huntington Beach
Volunteers are needed 9 a.m. Saturday at Huntington State Beach to install cording along the fence around California least tern nests.
—Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 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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Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025
This is part of a larger effort to revitalize the lagoon to buffer against sea level rise and increase habitat for endangered wildlife such as California least terns and a more recent visitor, Eastern Pacific green sea turtles that feed on the lagoon’s eelgrass.
—Jeff Regan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2025
Do the most for the least tern in Huntington Beach
Volunteers are needed 9 a.m. Saturday at Huntington State Beach to install cording along the fence around California least tern nests.
—Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 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 30 Jun. 2025.
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