rookery
noun
rook·ery
ˈru̇-kə-rē 
plural rookeries
1
a
: the nests or breeding place of a colony of rooks
also
: a colony of rooks
b
: a breeding ground or haunt especially of gregarious birds or mammals (such as penguins or seals)
also
: a colony of such birds or mammals
2
: a crowded dilapidated tenement or group of dwellings
Examples of rookery in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The park also serves as a springtime rookery for a local population of great blue herons.
—
Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 7 Mar. 2024
In a wildlife camera set up last year near the seal rookery at MacKerricher State Park, ecologist Frankie Gerraty captured a coyote decapitating its prey, confirming many researchers’ hypotheses about the maimed seal carcasses.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 23 Dec. 2023
When the females leave the rookery, frustrated males may even mount male and female pups left behind, crushing them in the process.
—Carl Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
Their parents sometimes died while flying over oceans or swamps (which preserve delicate bones), but the young stayed put in their rookeries.
—Carl Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
Sometimes, the birds select unique urban locales for their rookeries, such as Thames Street Park.
—Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 5 Sep. 2023
Bell had apparently discovered the remains of the first known pterosaur rookery.
—Carl Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
La Jolla protects pups left on the rookery while mothers forage.
—Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 20 Sep. 2023
The heron was one of several brought to Phoenix as nestlings from the rookery at Thames Street Park in Fells Point.
—Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 5 Sep. 2023
Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 7 Mar. 2024
In a wildlife camera set up last year near the seal rookery at MacKerricher State Park, ecologist Frankie Gerraty captured a coyote decapitating its prey, confirming many researchers’ hypotheses about the maimed seal carcasses.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 23 Dec. 2023
When the females leave the rookery, frustrated males may even mount male and female pups left behind, crushing them in the process.
—Carl Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
Their parents sometimes died while flying over oceans or swamps (which preserve delicate bones), but the young stayed put in their rookeries.
—Carl Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
Sometimes, the birds select unique urban locales for their rookeries, such as Thames Street Park.
—Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 5 Sep. 2023
Bell had apparently discovered the remains of the first known pterosaur rookery.
—Carl Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
La Jolla protects pups left on the rookery while mothers forage.
—Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 20 Sep. 2023
The heron was one of several brought to Phoenix as nestlings from the rookery at Thames Street Park in Fells Point.
—Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 5 Sep. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rookery.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1704, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Dictionary Entries Near rookery
Cite this Entry
“Rookery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rookery. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
rookery
noun
rook·ery
ˈru̇k-ə-rē
plural rookeries
: the place where a group of birds or social mammals (as penguins or seals) breed, nest, or raise their young
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