Word of the Day

: November 16, 2007

chuck-will's-widow

noun chuck-willz-WID-oh

What It Means

: a nightjar (Caprimulgus carolinensis) of the southeastern United States

chuck-will's-widow in Context

It was a cool, still night, and we could hear a chuck-will's-widow calling from over the hill.

Did You Know?

The chuck-will's-widow is a nocturnal bird that can be found in the swamps, rocky uplands, and pine forests of southeastern United States and is often confused with its close relative, the whippoorwill. Like many of our other feathered friends, the chuck-will's-widow got its name through onomatopoeia: "chuck-will's-widow" imitates the sounds of the bird's call. Given that the bird will sometimes repeat its call up to 800 times without stopping, the imitative origin of its name is hardly surprising.