The genus Siphonorhis was introduced in 1861 by the English zoologist Philip Sclater
with Caprimulgus americanusLinnaeus, 1758, the Jamaican poorwill, as the type species.[1][2] The genus name is derived from Ancient Greek σιφων/siphōn, σιφωνος/siphōnos meaning "tube" and ῥις/rhis, ῥινος/rhinos meaning "nostrils".[3]