Collocations for colony - noun

overseas
Britain's overseas colonies

American, British, French, etc.
former
the former Portuguese colony of Macao

independent, self-governing
penal, plantation

establish
Settlers established a new colony in the early 18th century.

in a/the colony

huge, large, thriving
small
breeding, nesting
ant, bird, seal, etc.

form
Some of the insects will leave to form a new colony.

in a/the colony
The birds nest in huge colonies.

colony of
a colony of ants