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nightjar |
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nightjar, common name for birds also known as goatsuckers goatsucker, common name for nocturnal or crepuscular birds of the order Caprimulgiformes, which includes the frogmouth, the oilbird, potoos, and nightjars. Goatsuckers are medium in size and are found in the temperate and tropical zones of both hemispheres. ..... Click the link for more information. . nightjaror goatsuckerAny of about 60–70 species of birds (family Caprimulgidae) found almost worldwide in temperate to tropical regions. The name is sometimes applied to all birds in the order Caprimulgiformes. (The name goatsucker derives from an old belief that they sucked goat's milk at night.) Nightjars are gray, brown, or reddish brown. They eat flying insects at night. The common nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) has a flat head; wide, bristle-fringed mouth; large eyes; and soft plumage that results in noiseless flight. It is about 12 in. (30 cm) long. Its North American relatives include the nighthawk and whippoorwill. |
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"And there," I said, "are the nightingale and the nightjar for orchestra. |
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nightjar
