chuck-will's-widow

chuck-will's-widow
/chuk"wilz wid"oh/, n.
a goatsucker, Caprimulgus carolinensis, of the southern U.S., resembling the whippoorwill but larger.
[1785-95; fanciful representation of its incessant call]

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▪ bird
      (species Caprimulgus carolinensis), nocturnal bird of the family Caprimulgidae, found in the swamps, rocky uplands, and pine woods of the southeastern United States, migrating to the West Indies, Central America, and northwestern South America. This nightjar is named for its call (second and third syllables accented, first syllable weak), which it may repeat 800 times without stopping. It lays two eggs on the ground; if threatened, the parent may carry away an egg in its huge mouth. Often confused with the whippoorwill, the chuck-will's-widow is larger (to 30 cm [12 inches]) and reddish brown, with little or no white in the tail.

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  • Chuck-will's-widow — Adult male (upper right) and female (lower left) Conservation status …   Wikipedia

  • Chuck-Will's-widow — Chuck Will s wid ow, n. (Zool.) A large whippoorwill like bird (a species of goatsucker) ({Caprimulgus carolinensis}, formerly {Antrostomus Carolinensis}), of the southern United States; so called from its note. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • chuck-will's-widow — ☆ chuck will s widow [chuk′wilz′wid′ō ] n. [echoic of its cry] a large nightjar (Caprimulgus carolinensis) of the S U.S., often mistaken for the slightly smaller whippoorwill …   English World dictionary

  • chuck-will's-widow — Caprimulgus Caprimulgus n. the type genus of the {Caprimulgidae}, including the {whip poor will} ({Caprimulgus vociferus}) and the {chuck will s widow} ({Caprimulgus carolinensis}). Syn: genus {Caprimulgus}. [WordNet 1.5 +PJC] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • chuck-will's-widow — 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}),… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Chuck-will`s-widow — karolininis lėlys statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Antrostomus carolinensis; Caprimulgus carolinensis angl. Chuck will s widow vok. Carolinanachtschwalbe, f rus. каролинский козодой, m pranc. engoulevent de Caroline, m… …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • chuck-will's-widow — chuck′ will s wid′ow [[t]ˈtʃʌk wɪlz[/t]] n. orn a large nightjar, Caprimulgus carolinensis, of the southern U.S • Etymology: 1785–95; repr. the bird s call …   From formal English to slang

  • chuck-will's-widow — noun Etymology: imitative Date: 1791 a nightjar (Caprimulgus carolinensis) of the southeastern United States …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • chuck-will's-widow — noun large whippoorwill like bird of the southern United States • Syn: ↑Caprimulgus carolinensis • Hypernyms: ↑goatsucker, ↑nightjar, ↑caprimulgid • Member Holonyms: ↑Caprimulgus, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

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