rookery

American  

[rook-uh-ree] / ˈrʊk ə ri /

noun

plural

rookeries

1. a breeding place or colony of gregarious birds or animals, as penguins and seals.

2. a colony of rooks.

3. a place where rooks congregate to breed.

4. a crowded tenement house.

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rookery British  

/ ˈrʊkərɪ /

noun

1. a group of nesting rooks

2. a clump of trees containing rooks' nests

3. 1. a breeding ground or communal living area of certain other species of gregarious birds or mammals, esp penguins or seals

   2. a colony of any such creatures

4. archaic an overcrowded slum tenement building or area of housing

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rookery Scientific  

/ rk′ə-rē /

1. A place where certain birds or animals, such as crows, penguins, and seals, gather to breed.

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Etymology

Origin of rookery

First recorded in 1715–25; rook ¹ + -ery

Example Sentences

Animal lovers will likely want to make a stop at Piedras Blancas Rookery, which claims to be the world’s only elephant seal rookery that is free and open to the public 365 days a year.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 8, 2022

Extra attraction: Travel about 10 miles south to the Rookery Building, which Burnham and Root designed in 1888.

From Washington Post • Sep. 5, 2019

Mr Rees said Mr Yousef, 28, had entered the store on Rookery Road at about 12:40 GMT.

From BBC • Sep. 10, 2018

The two curious penguins in the video filmed themselves at the Auster Rookery, a penguin colony near the Australian Mawson research station.

From The Verge • Mar. 10, 2018

The eastern and Chicago architects met again on Monday morning, January 12, in Burnham & Root’s library on the top floor of the Rookery.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

Related Words

• hatchery