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
see also:
whip-poor-will caprimulgus vociferus chuck-will's-widow caprimulgus carolinensis common nighthawk chordeiles minor 
goatsuckers nightjars caprimulgidae 

caprimulgidae
     n : goatsuckers syn: family caprimulgidae
see also:
family caprimulgidae