nestling

/ˈnestlɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈnestlɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈnest-liŋ/ (ame, mw)

nestling — noun

  • nestlingsingular
  • nestlingsplural

1. a baby bird that is still living where it was hatched, too weak to fly, and fed

1.名詞C1
釋義

a baby bird that is still living where it was hatched, too weak to fly, and fed entirely by its parents.

例句

Mia found a tiny nestling on the grass under the oak tree in her garden.

common pattern: find + nestling (rescue scenario)

Three pink nestlings stretched their open beaks toward Joon as he peered into the nest.

plural noun + colour/body-part description

同義詞
  • chick

    more general everyday word for any baby bird, especially poultry

  • hatchling

    focuses on the moment just after the egg breaks open; nestling covers the longer in-nest stage

反義詞
  • fledgling

    the next life stage — has feathers and is starting to fly

文法句型

a nestling + verb

用法筆記

Distinguish from 'fledgling': a nestling is still nest-bound and cannot fly, while a fledgling has feathers and is learning to fly outside the nest.

常見錯誤

❌The nestling flew away from the tree.
✅The fledgling flew away from the tree.
💡by definition a nestling cannot yet fly; if it flies, it is a fledgling.