nightjars

nightjars
Caprimulgidae Caprimulgidae n. [L. capris goat + mulgere to milk.] a widely distributed natural family of nocturnally active birds including the {whip-poor-will} ({Caprimulgus vociferus}), the {chuck-will's-widow} ({Caprimulgus carolinensis}), and the {common nighthawk} ({Chordeiles minor}); -- called popularly the {goatsuckers} or {nightjars}. The nighthawks are sometimes active during the day.

Syn: goatsuckers, nightjars, family {Caprimulgidae}. [PJC]

The family . . . is alternately known as the nightjars (derived from the "churring" sounds of several species -- "jarring" the night air), or goatsuckers, a nonsense name that should be discontinued as it has its origin in the preposterous myth that the birds sucked the milk of nanny goats until they were dry. --Terence Michael Short (Wild Birds of the Americas)


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • nightjars —    Because of their silent flight, large eyes, and weird purring cry, nightjars were regarded as uncanny. In Yorkshire they were said to be the souls of *unbaptized infants, wandering for ever, and/or to be the sinister Gabriel Ratchets. In… …   A Dictionary of English folklore

  • nightjars — lėliniai statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Caprimulgidae angl. nightjars vok. Nachtschwalben rus. настоящие козодои pranc. caprimulgidés; engoulevents ryšiai: platesnis terminas – lėliniai paukščiai siauresnis terminas –… …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • nightjars — n. species of insectivorous nocturnal bird from the genus Caprimulgus, goatsucker …   English contemporary dictionary

  • owlet-nightjars — pelėdiniai varliažiočiai statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Aegothelidae angl. owlet nightjars vok. Höhlenschwalme rus. совиные лягушкороты pranc. égothélidés ryšiai: platesnis terminas – lėliniai paukščiai siauresnis… …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • typical nightjars — tikrieji lėliai statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Caprimulginae angl. typical nightjars ryšiai: platesnis terminas – lėliniai siauresnis terminas – amerikiniai lėliai siauresnis terminas – aštriauodegiai lėliai siauresnis… …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • List of nightjars — This is a list of nightjar and eared nightjar species, sortable by common name or binomial …   Wikipedia

  • caprimulgiform — ▪ order of birds Introduction also called  nightjars    any of about 120 species of soft plumaged birds (bird), the major groups of which are called nightjars (nightjar), nighthawks (nighthawk), potoos (potoo), frogmouths (frogmouth), and owlet… …   Universalium

  • Nightjar — Goatsucker redirects here. For the cryptid translated from Spanish as goat sucker, see Chupacabra. This article is about the bird. For the aircraft, see Gloster Nightjar. Nightjars Common Nighthawk, Chordeiles minor, and Whip poor will …   Wikipedia

  • Owlet-nightjar — Owlet nightjars Barred Owlet nightjar Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia …   Wikipedia

  • Caprimulgiformes — Taxobox name = Caprimulgiformes image width = 250px image caption = Large tailed Nightjar, Caprimulgus macrurus regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Aves infraclassis = Neognathae unranked ordo = Cypselomorphae ordo = Caprimulgiformes… …   Wikipedia

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