Definition

Noun: 1. A nocturnal bird of North America: "bullbat" is a common name for a specific species of nightjar, a medium-sized, nocturnal bird known for its insect-catching habits and distinctive flight. It is primarily active at dusk and dawn.

Usage

• The term "bullbat" is used as a singular, countable noun to refer to the bird itself.
• It is a regional or common name, often used in specific areas of North America. The more widely recognized scientific or common name is common nighthawk ().

Examples

• We sat on the porch at dusk and watched a bullbat swoop through the air catching insects.
• The buzzing sound you hear overhead is likely a bullbat, not an owl.
• Some people mistakenly call the bullbat a "nightjar" or "goatsucker."

Advanced Usage

• The name "bullbat" is thought to derive from the bird's bat-like, erratic flight patterns and the buzzing or "booming" sound made by the males during courtship dives, which some likened to the bellowing of a bull.

Variants and Related Words

• Common nighthawk (n): The standard common name for the species , synonymous with "bullbat."
• Nightjar (n): The family name (Caprimulgidae) for a group of nocturnal, insectivorous birds to which the bullbat belongs.
• Goatsucker (n): An old folk name for birds in the nightjar family, based on the mistaken belief that they suck milk from goats.

Synonyms

• Common nighthawk
• Nightjar (general family term)

Notes on Meaning

• "Bullbat" refers specifically to the common nighthawk (). It is not a general term for all bats or for other species of nighthawks. Its key identifying features are its nocturnal activity, long pointed wings with white bars, and its aerial feeding on insects.

Noun

1. mainly nocturnal North American goatsucker