Main Entry:

oil·bird

Pronunciation:

\ˈȯi(-ə)l-ˌbərd\

Function:

noun

Date:

circa 1890

: a nocturnal bird (Steatornis caripensis) of northern South America and Trinidad that is related to the nightjars, feeds chiefly on the fatty fruits of various palms, and has fatty young from which an oil used especially in cooking is extracted —called also guacharo