nestling

noun

nest·​ling ˈnest-liŋ How to pronounce nestling (audio)
: a young bird that has not left the nest

Examples of nestling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The unsuspecting vireo will then raise the cowbird chicks, which grow faster than its own and outcompete the vireo nestlings for food. Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2024 Bags also pack a clear vitrine, nestling one of the many ear sculptures. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 22 Dec. 2023 Arrange the cloches around the garland, filling their base with moss and nestling a couple of mushroom or animal decorations in the moss. Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Nov. 2023 Scrub-jays are resident birds here, but, like many species, seem more abundant after nesting season since they are not constrained to taking care of nestlings and can expand their range in search of food. Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Sep. 2023 For birds nesting in agricultural spaces with little tree cover or shade, the probability of successfully raising at least one nestling dropped by 46% when temperatures were abnormally high. Nidhi Sharma, NBC News, 19 Oct. 2023 The heron was one of several brought to Phoenix as nestlings from the rookery at Thames Street Park in Fells Point. Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 5 Sep. 2023 Biologists used rock climbing gear to ascend the cliffs and reach the two nestlings. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Aug. 2023 Through the fog of its delirium, the crowd needed a second to process the sight of Mackenzie Arnold’s outstretched arm, the ball nestling in the net, Hemp wheeling away in celebration. Rory Smith, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nestling.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nestling was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near nestling

Cite this Entry

“Nestling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nestling. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

nestling

noun
nest·​ling ˈnest-liŋ How to pronounce nestling (audio)
: a young bird not yet able to leave the nest

More from Merriam-Webster on nestling

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