A genus of North American nightjars, medium-sized insect-eating birds known for their swift aerial maneuvers and nasal calls.
From Greek 'chordē' (string) plus 'eilein' (to roll), or possibly derived from the bird's distinctive sound. Genus name coined for these birds' characteristic rolling calls.
The Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) is named 'chuck-will's-widow' by some people because its call sounds like those words—nature's own onomatopoeia!
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