goatsucker
Definition
Noun: 1. A nocturnal insectivorous bird: A bird belonging to the family Caprimulgidae, characterized by being active at dusk or night, having cryptic plumage (often mottled browns and greys), very large eyes, a small beak, and a wide gape for catching insects in flight.
Usage
- The term goatsucker is a common name based on an old, mistaken folk belief that these birds suck milk from goats. The scientific and more accurate common name for this family of birds is nightjar.
- It is used to refer to any bird within the Caprimulgidae family, including species commonly known as nighthawks, poorwills, and whip-poor-wills.
- Example: "We heard the distinctive churring call of a goatsucker in the field at dusk."
Advanced Usage
- The name goatsucker is a direct translation of the bird's scientific family name, , from Latin (goat) and (to milk).
- In ornithological and general descriptive contexts, the term nightjar is now strongly preferred to avoid the archaic and incorrect implication of the common name.
Variants and Related Words
- Nightjar (n): The standard modern common name for birds in the family Caprimulgidae.
- Nighthawk (n): A common name for some species within the goatsucker/nightjar family, particularly those in the subfamily Chordeilinae, often more active in open areas.
- Caprimulgid (n): The formal adjective or noun form relating to the family Caprimulgidae.
- Whip-poor-will (n): A specific species of North American goatsucker/nightjar () named for its distinctive call.
Synonyms
- Nightjar
- Caprimulgid (technical)
- Bullbat (regional, for Common Nighthawk)
Related Idioms or Phrases
- There are no common idioms directly using the word goatsucker. The related term nightjar sometimes appears in poetic or literary contexts to evoke evening or nighttime settings.
Noun
-
mainly crepuscular or nocturnal nonpasserine birds with mottled greyish-brown plumage and large eyes; feed on insects
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