Definition

1. Noun:
   • A large nocturnal bird species: The chuck-will's-widow is a large, insect-eating bird native to the southeastern United States, known for its distinctive, repetitive call that sounds like its name.
   • A member of the nightjar family (Caprimulgidae): It is a specific type of nightjar, closely related to the whippoorwill, characterized by its cryptic brown plumage, large mouth for catching insects in flight, and crepuscular/nocturnal habits.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • We heard the haunting call of a chuck-will's-widow in the pine forest at dusk.
  • The chuck-will's-widow is a master of camouflage, blending perfectly with the leaf litter on the forest floor.

Advanced Usage

• "The call of the chuck-will's-widow": Refers specifically to the bird's vocalization, often used to evoke a sense of a southern summer night.
  • The only sound was the call of the chuck-will's-widow echoing through the swamp.

Variants and Related Words

• Nightjar (n): The common name for the family (Caprimulgidae) to which the chuck-will's-widow belongs.
• Whippoorwill (n): A closely related, slightly smaller North American nightjar with a similar call ("whip-poor-will").
• Caprimulgus carolinensis (n): The scientific (Latin) name for the chuck-will's-widow species.

Synonyms

• Goatsucker: An old, less common common name for birds in the nightjar family, based on a mistaken belief that they suck milk from goats.
• Night bird: A general term for birds active at night.

Related Phrases

• "To sound like a chuck-will's-widow": An informal phrase describing a repetitive, chanting call or sound.
  • With that engine trouble, the car started to sound like a chuck-will's-widow.

Related Idioms

(This specific bird name is not commonly used in idiomatic expressions. Its usage is primarily literal and ornithological.)

Noun

1. large whippoorwill-like bird of the southern United States