Rookery: meaning, definitions and examples

animal habitat

A rookery is a communal nesting area for certain animals, particularly birds. The term is most commonly associated with seabirds such as penguins, seals, and other marine wildlife that gather in large numbers to breed and raise their young. Rookeries provide safety in numbers from predators and favorable environmental conditions for raising offspring. These sites are crucial for many species' reproductive success and are typically located on remote islands or cliffs.

breeding ground, habitat, nesting colony

Examples of usage

• The penguins returned to their rookery to breed.

• Seabirds often nest in a rookery to protect their chicks.

• The massive rookery was filled with the sounds of squawking birds.

• Researchers studied the rookery's impact on the local ecosystem.