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The Tower of London has a long and notorious history of murderous political intrigue, dungeons, and famous beheadings. And for more than 300 years, the tower has also been home to a set of royally maintained ravens. Since the time of Charles II, at least six ravens have — by royal decree — made their home in the tower. They are given ample food, comfy quarters, and private burials in the moat near Traitor's Gate.
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BirdNote®
The Royal Ravens of the Tower of London
Adapted from a script by Bob Sundstrom
This is BirdNote.
[Sounds of a 17th Century London Street; horsedrawn carriages are clacking across cobblestones]
The Tower of London has a long and notorious history. It has been the site of murderous political intrigue and famous beheadings; a place to lock up prisoners or the Crown Jewels. And for more than 300 years, the Tower of London has also been home to a flock of pampered ravens.
[Common Raven calling]
Legend has it that in 1666 — the time of the Great Fire of London — ravens were vilified as scavengers of the dead. When asked to rid London of all ravens, including those in the Tower, King Charles II consulted his soothsayer, who foretold that the Tower would crumble — and the monarchy with it — if the ravens were ever killed. The ravens would live, the king proclaimed, and be given the royal treatment for the good of England.
[Common Raven calling]
At least, that’s one version of the tale. The curious corvids have inspired several origin stories over the centuries and we may never know which — if any — are true. But to this day, a Ravenmaster from the Yoeman Warders cares for no fewer than six ravens in the Tower of London. They are given ample food, comfy quarters, and private burials in the moat near Traitor’s Gate. The ravens live out their lives happily in the Tower — more than can be said for Anne Boleyn, Thomas More, or Sir Walter Raleigh.
[Common Raven calling]
For BirdNote, I’m Michael Stein.
Support for BirdNote is provided by Charlie and Carrie Kahle and generous listeners around the world.
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Senior Producer: Mark Bramhill
Producer: Sam Johnson
Managing Editor: Jazzi Johnson
Managing Producer: Ariana Remmel
Content Director: Jonese Franklin
Bird sounds provided by The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Common Raven ML137574 recorded by Gerrit Vyn. BirdNote’s theme was composed and played by Nancy Rumbel and John Kessler.
© 2025 BirdNote November 2006 / 2013 August 2025
Narrator: Michael Stein
ID# CORA-05b-2025-08-21 CORA-05b
Reference:
Heinrich, Bernd. Ravens in Winter. New York: Summit Books, 1989.
Bob Sundstrom
Writer
Michael Stein
NarratorSights & Sounds
