Caprimulgidae

n.

1.

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. 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

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

Caprimulgidae - goatsuckers family Caprimulgidae bird family - a family of warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings Caprimulgiformes, order Caprimulgiformes - goatsuckers; frogmouths; oilbirds caprimulgid, goatsucker, nightjar - mainly crepuscular or nocturnal nonpasserine birds with mottled greyish-brown plumage and large eyes; feed on insects Caprimulgus, genus Caprimulgus - type genus of the Caprimulgidae Chordeiles, genus Chordeiles - a genus of Caprimulgidae genus Phalaenoptilus, Phalaenoptilus - a genus of Caprimulgidae