goatsucker

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a dated name for a nightjar, a crepuscular or nocturnal bird of the family Caprimulgidae

   The faint call of a goatsucker sounded from the dry mountain scrub after sunset.

A translation of Latin caprimulgus, from caper, 'goat,' + mulgere, 'to milk.' The name preserves an ancient but false belief that nightjars entered goat pens and sucked milk; the birds actually feed on flying insects.

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