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
Care will be taken to avoid grunion runs and least tern nesting areas.
—
Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2024
California least tern Head to Mission Bay for a chance to see the California least tern, the world’s second smallest tern at about 9 inches long.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2024
The sea turtles are nesting and so are shorebirds such as snowy plovers, Wilson’s plovers and least terns.
—Robin Soslow, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
Signs also warn that the area is a habitat for the plover and the least tern.
—Saumya Gupta, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2023
Thomas said the least terns have an innate fear of predators such as dogs, and that being chased by them reinforces that fear.
—Saumya Gupta, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2023
For birders, this beach is heaven — home to elusive and endangered species such as the California least tern — especially because it's located across from a 114-acre wetland reserve.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 17 May 2023
Wetlands are widely valued as natural pollution filters and as habitat for endangered species such as the Yuma clapper rail, whooping crane and least tern.
—Elizabeth Svoboda, Discover Magazine, 29 Apr. 2015
Images, top to bottom: West African dwarf crocodile by Nathan Rupert; Australian brush turkey by Rae Allen; emperor penguin by Martha de Jong-Lantink; California alligator lizard by squamatologist; least tern by Dan Pancamo (all via Flickr).
—Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 15 May 2015
Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2024
California least tern Head to Mission Bay for a chance to see the California least tern, the world’s second smallest tern at about 9 inches long.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2024
The sea turtles are nesting and so are shorebirds such as snowy plovers, Wilson’s plovers and least terns.
—Robin Soslow, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
Signs also warn that the area is a habitat for the plover and the least tern.
—Saumya Gupta, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2023
Thomas said the least terns have an innate fear of predators such as dogs, and that being chased by them reinforces that fear.
—Saumya Gupta, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2023
For birders, this beach is heaven — home to elusive and endangered species such as the California least tern — especially because it's located across from a 114-acre wetland reserve.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 17 May 2023
Wetlands are widely valued as natural pollution filters and as habitat for endangered species such as the Yuma clapper rail, whooping crane and least tern.
—Elizabeth Svoboda, Discover Magazine, 29 Apr. 2015
Images, top to bottom: West African dwarf crocodile by Nathan Rupert; Australian brush turkey by Rae Allen; emperor penguin by Martha de Jong-Lantink; California alligator lizard by squamatologist; least tern by Dan Pancamo (all via Flickr).
—Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 15 May 2015
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'least tern.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Least tern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/least%20tern. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
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