common nighthawk

1 definition found

common nighthawk - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Caprimulgidae \Caprimulgidae\ n. [L. capris goat + mulgere to
     milk.]
     a widely distributed natural family of nocturnally active
     birds including the whip-poor-will (Caprimulgus vociferus
     ), the chuck-will's-widow (Caprimulgus carolinensis
     ), and the common nighthawk (Chordeiles minor
     ); -- called popularly the goatsuckers or
     nightjars. The nighthawks are sometimes active during the
     day.
  
     Syn: goatsuckers, nightjars, family Caprimulgidae.
          [PJC]
  
                The family . . . is alternately known as the
                nightjars (derived from the "churring" sounds of
                several species -- "jarring" the night air), or
                goatsuckers, a nonsense name that should be
                discontinued as it has its origin in the
                preposterous myth that the birds sucked the milk
                of nanny goats until they were dry. --Terence
                                                    Michael Short
                                                    (Wild Birds of
                                                    the Americas)