Caprimulgus vociferus

9.9

A North American night bird with grey and white feathers and a loud repeated call

noun
/ˌkæprɪˈmʌlɡəs voʊˈsɪfərəs/

Specialized

: chotacabras

The distinctive call of the Caprimulgus vociferus can be heard on warm summer nights in the countryside.

Examples

Researchers tracked the migratory patterns of Caprimulgus vociferus across several eastern states.
Many birdwatchers hope to spot a Caprimulgus vociferus during their nocturnal outings.
The Caprimulgus vociferus is known for its distinctive call at night.
Have you ever seen a Caprimulgus vociferus in the wild?
Birdwatchers are excited to listen for the call of the Caprimulgus vociferus at dusk.
The Caprimulgus vociferus, often heard at night, blends well into its forest surroundings.
During the summer, the Caprimulgus vociferus fills the air with its unique song right after sunset.

Synonyms

whippoorwill

vsCaprimulgus vociferus

2 9.9

A bird active at night in North America that makes the same call again and again

is the formal Latin scientific name used in taxonomy

Surface Forms

Caprimulgus vociferus singular

Caprimulgus vociferuses plural

Morphology

Caprimulgus + vociferus

This is a Latin scientific binomial (a proper name) rather than a compositional English phrase, so its specific meaning ('the eastern whip-poor-will') is not derivable from the constituents by a B1 learner. Even if a learner recognised 'Caprimulgus' as a genus or saw a resemblance between 'vociferus' and English 'vociferous', that would not reliably yield the species identity or the full descriptive meaning, making it effectively idiomatic/opaque for learners.

Etymology

The noun Caprimulgus vociferus comes from old Latin words: Caprimulgus was once thought to mean 'goat-sucker' and vociferus means 'noisy', because people long ago believed these night birds sucked milk from goats and they make loud calls at night. So, the name helps you remember a night bird known for its loud, repeating call.