nightjar

night·jar

 (nīt′jär′)

n.

Any of various chiefly nocturnal, insectivorous birds of the family Caprimulgidae, especially those in the genus Caprimulgus. Also called goatsucker.

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[night + jar (from their harsh calls).]

nightjar

(ˈnaɪtˌdʒɑː)

n

(Animals) any nocturnal bird of the family Caprimulgidae, esp Caprimulgus europaeus (European nightjar): order Caprimulgiformes. They have a cryptic plumage and large eyes and feed on insects

[C17: night + jar², so called from its discordant cry]

night•jar

(ˈnaɪtˌdʒɑr)

n.

1. any of numerous nocturnal goatsuckers of the subfamily Caprimulginae, having a short bill and a wide mouth used for scooping up insects in midflight.

2. the common Eurasian nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus, known for its distinctive chirring song.

[1620–30; night + jar² (alluding to its song)]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

nightjar - mainly crepuscular or nocturnal nonpasserine birds with mottled greyish-brown plumage and large eyes; feed on insects caprimulgid, goatsucker caprimulgiform bird - long-winged nonpasserine birds Caprimulgidae, family Caprimulgidae - goatsuckers Caprimulgus europaeus, European goatsucker, European nightjar - Old World goatsucker Caprimulgus carolinensis, chuck-will's-widow - large whippoorwill-like bird of the southern United States Caprimulgus vociferus, whippoorwill - American nocturnal goatsucker with grey-and-white plumage bullbat, mosquito hawk, nighthawk - mainly nocturnal North American goatsucker Phalaenoptilus nuttallii, poorwill - goatsucker of western North America

Translations

Ziegenmelker

nightjar

[ˈnaɪtdʒɑːʳ] N → chotacabras m inv

nightjar

[ˈnaɪtˌdʒɑːʳ] n (Zool) → caprimulgo nostrano