| slovo | definícia |
Caprimulgidae
(gcide) | 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) |
caprimulgidae
(wn) | Caprimulgidae
n 1: goatsuckers [syn: Caprimulgidae, family Caprimulgidae] |
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