nightjar

[ nahyt-jahr ]

noun

1. a nocturnal European bird, Caprimulgus europaeus, of the family Caprimulgidae, having a short bill and a wide mouth and feeding on insects captured in the air.
2. Also called goatsucker. any other nocturnal or crepuscular bird of the family Caprimulgidae.

nightjar

/ ˈnaɪtˌdʒɑː /

noun

1. any nocturnal bird of the family Caprimulgidae, esp Caprimulgus europaeus ( European nightjar ): order Caprimulgiformes. They have a cryptic plumage and large eyes and feed on insects

Word History and Origins

Origin of nightjar¹

1620–30; night + jar ² (from its harsh cry)

Word History and Origins

Origin of nightjar¹

C17: night + jar ², so called from its discordant cry

Example Sentences

Swifts and nightjars work with a limited repertoire of instinctive calls while hummingbirds are able to elaborate on calls by learning complex songs from each other, a trait called vocal learning.

From Science Daily

Nightingale, greenfinch, grey partridge, marsh tit, skylark, nightjar and tree pipit - all Red List species - have been recorded.

From BBC

In that episode in Puerto Rico, a developer had cleared scarce habitat of the endangered nightjar in 2014 before completing any environmental review.

From Salon

The research group found that the cilia are notably absent from feathers of barn owls and nightjars, two species that stalk prey at night.

From Scientific American

In the evenings there were fireflies in the courtyard, and he could hear the cries of the nightjars as they circled overhead.

From Literature