chuck-will's-widow
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Definition
- 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
- large whippoorwill-like bird of the southern United States