In everyday writing, you can simply say “a group of penguins.”
If you want to be more precise, choose the word by situation.
Colony and rookery: breeding groups on land or ice
When penguins gather to breed on shore or sea ice, English often uses colony. Rookery is also common for seabird and seal breeding sites.
In practice, these words are more useful than forcing one decorative collective noun onto every scene.
Raft: penguins in the water
When penguins gather on or in the water, English may call the group a raft. The image is a small group floating or moving together at sea.
In a field guide or research note, raft does not mean a wooden boat. It means penguins grouped in water.
Huddle: packed together for warmth
A huddle is a tight group. The famous example is the emperor penguin, where birds crowd together in extreme cold and rotate through warmer positions.
That differs from colony. Colony describes a breeding group or site; huddle describes a close-packed warming behavior.
For more terms, continue with the penguin glossary.
FAQ
Is every group of penguins a colony?
No. Colony usually means a breeding group. Penguins in water or packed for warmth may be described with different terms.
What is a raft of penguins?
A raft is a group of penguins together on or in the water.
What is a huddle?
A huddle is a tightly packed group, often used for emperor penguins keeping warm.
