whippoorwill
/'wippu ,wil/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A nocturnal North American bird: A medium-sized bird (Caprimulgus vociferus) known for its distinctive, repetitive call that sounds like its name, "whip-poor-will." It is a member of the nightjar family (Caprimulgidae).
- Characteristics: It has mottled grey, brown, and black plumage that provides excellent camouflage against the forest floor. It is an insectivore, catching flying insects at dusk and dawn.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The haunting call of the whippoorwill is a classic sound of summer nights in eastern North American woods.
- We sat on the porch and listened to a whippoorwill singing in the distance.
Advanced Usage
- Ecological indicator: The presence or absence of whippoorwills is sometimes studied as an indicator of forest health and insect population levels.
- Biologists are concerned because the whippoorwill population has declined, suggesting changes in its woodland habitat.
Variants and Related Words
- Nightjar (n): The common name for the family of birds (Caprimulgidae) to which the whippoorwill belongs. They are also known as "goatsuckers."
- Chuck-will's-widow (n): A closely related, larger species of nightjar () found in southeastern North America, with a similar but distinct call.
Synonyms
- Nightjar: A general term for birds of the family Caprimulgidae.
- Goatsucker: An old, less common name for nightjars, based on a folk myth that these birds suck milk from goats.
Related Phrases
- "Hear a whippoorwill call": A phrase often used in literature and music to evoke a specific rural, nocturnal, or melancholic atmosphere.
- The song described a lonely traveler who could hear a whippoorwill call from the deep woods.
Noun
- American nocturnal goatsucker with grey-and-white plumage