- Caprimulgidae
- 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.
