had nested

• past perfect

  past perfect

  Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.

  of nest.
  nest

  noun

  a pocketlike, usually more or less circular structure of twigs, grass, mud, etc., formed by a bird, often high in a tree, as a place in which to lay and incubate its eggs and rear its young; any protected place used by a bird for these purposes.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

had nested

Then, a year to the day later, a hummingbird had nested outside Terry’s house, and it washed out in a storm, and Terry called Jean again, and Jean said to Terry, “Will you help me?”

From Salon ● Jan. 9, 2025

“However, three pairs that had nested unsuccessfully in previous years hatched and fledged chicks this year.”

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 8, 2022

Robyn said it was probably from the same pair that had nested earlier.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 7, 2021

Their parents had nested on a duck-hunting platform that barely topped the waters of the Chesapeake Bay, and a coming storm surge threatened to drown them.

From The New Yorker ● Jun. 8, 2018

A family of birds had nested on the roof of the classroom.

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Related Words

• burrow
• den
• refuge