Quick Answers
There are a few key things you can do to increase your chances of getting a bird’s nest while woodcutting in RuneScape 3:
- Use a bird nest potion from the Grand Exchange
- Equip the Nature’s Sentinel outfit
- Complete the Falconry miniquest
- Use a crystal axe or inferno adze
- Chop maple, yew, magic, elders or crystal trees
The bird nest potion boosts your chance of finding a nest while woodcutting by 10% for 30 minutes. The full Nature’s Sentinel outfit provides a 2.5% boost per piece worn, up to 10% with the complete set. Completing the Falconry miniquest permanently boosts your chance by 10%.
Certain axes like the crystal axe and inferno adze provide an invisible boost to finding nests. And focusing your woodcutting on higher level maple trees or above will provide better nest rates than lower level trees.
Getting Started with Bird Nests
Bird nests are random drops that can be obtained while chopping various trees in RuneScape 3. They provide a number of useful rewards including seeds, rings, eggs and feathers.
There are a few different types of bird nests:
- Regular bird nests – containing rings, seeds or feathers
- Ring nests – containing enchanted, nature or dust rings
- Seed nests – containing various tree seeds
- Empty nests – can be crushed for feathers
The type of nest you receive is random based on the tree you are chopping. Higher level trees generally provide better rewards on average.
To start collecting nests, all you need to do is start woodcutting. Any standard tree has a chance to give you a nest when chopped down. However, there are ways to greatly improve your nest rate as detailed in the rest of this guide.
Using Bird Nest Potions
The bird nest potion is an item purchased from the Grand Exchange that can significantly boost your nest rate while woodcutting for 30 minutes.
To use it:
- Purchase bird nest potions from the Grand Exchange
- Drink the potion when standing next to trees you want to cut
- Woodcut as normal for the next 30 minutes
- Repeat with additional potions to maintain the boost
The bird nest potion provides a 10% boost to your chance of finding a nest. It is stackable with other boosts like outfits and axes for an even higher total nest rate.
The potion lasts for 30 minutes before needing to be reapplied. You can reuse it as soon as it runs out. Having multiple potion doses on hand is recommended so you can continually reapply the boost.
At current Grand Exchange prices, the potions provide excellent value for money given the large boost they offer. Bird nest rewards can often cover the cost of the potions.
Wearing Nature’s Sentinel Outfit
The Nature’s Sentinel outfit is a woodcutting skilling outfit that provides a 2.5% boost to finding bird nests per piece worn, up to 10% with the full set equipped.
To benefit from the outfit:
- Obtain Nature’s Sentinel outfit pieces (from Treasure Hunter or in-game)
- Equip as many pieces as possible, ideally the full set
- Chop trees while wearing the outfit
The more pieces you have equipped, the greater your nest rate will be. The boost is constantly applied while you skill.
While obtaining the full outfit requires significant luck or money, even having 1-2 pieces can start boosting your nest rates. Focus on the Nature’s Sentinel headpiece first since this provides the full 2.5% boost by itself.
You can further enhance this outfit boost by combining it with a bird nest potion and using a crystal axe or inferno adze.
Completing Falconry Miniquest
Completing the Falconry miniquest permanently boosts your chance of obtaining a bird’s nest by 10% while woodcutting.
To complete the miniquest:
- Start the miniquest by speaking to Matthias south of Piscatoris fishing colony
- Help train his falcon by catching kebbits and bringing them to him
- Return after catching 10 kebbits to complete the miniquest
Catching kebbits requires level 11 Hunter and a butterfly net. But the miniquest itself has no requirements and can be completed fairly quickly.
The 10% boost applies automatically after finishing the miniquest. It stacks with your other bird nest boosts for major gains. Make sure to complete Falconry early for the longest benefit.
You only need to complete the miniquest once in your RuneScape career to permanently unlock the boost. It will remain applied no matter what world you switch to.
Using Crystal Axes and Inferno Adze
Chopping trees with a crystal axe or inferno adze provides an invisible boost to your base chance of getting a bird’s nest.
The crystal axe is created by combining a dragon axe with crystal tool seeds. The inferno adze is a reward from the Firemakers’ Curse quest.
Both of these high-level axes have a hidden +3 boost to nest rates. This results in noticeably more nests compared to using a standard rune or dragon axe.
To benefit from this boost, simply cut trees using either axe in your inventory. No other steps are required.
If possible, get your own crystal axe by completing the Within the Light quest and Plague’s End quest. Otherwise, you may need to purchase temporary crystal tool seeds from the Grand Exchange.
The inferno adze requires completion of the Firemakers’ Curse quest. Both axes can be augmented and levelled up for additional woodcutting benefits.
Chop Maple Trees or Higher
Your base chance of getting a bird’s nest is heavily dependent on the type of tree you chop. Higher level trees provide better nest rates.
It is recommended to chop maple trees or higher if your goal is specifically obtaining nests. Here are the base nest rate percentages for each tree:
Tree | Base Nest Rate |
Regular | 1% |
Oak | 2% |
Willow | 2.5% |
Maple | 5% |
Yew | 6% |
Magic | 7.5% |
Elder | 10% |
As you can see, maple trees and above provide significantly better base rates, especially at level 90+ trees.
Make sure you have the required Woodcutting level to start chopping the best trees available. Use your bird nest boosts while chopping maple trees or higher for excellent nest rates.
If your Woodcutting level isn’t high enough yet, consider training on acadia trees from level 90. These still offer improved nest rates over lower trees.
worlds for Increased Spawn Rate
An additional way to further increase bird nest rates is to world hop to certain worlds that provide a global spawn rate boost:
- World 84 – +25% global spawn rate for resources
- World 2 – +10% global spawn rate
Hopping to either of these worlds will make nests more common from all sources, including woodcutting.
Try chopping trees on these worlds to maximize the amount of nests you obtain per hour. Don’t forget to also use your personal boosts like potions and outfits.
Keep in mind world 84 limits resource collection so you may fill your inventory quickly. World 2 has no restrictions.
Using Clan Avatar
If you are in a clan, another option is to activate your clan’s Woodcrusher avatar before chopping trees.
With the avatar summoned, you will gain 3% extra experience while woodcutting. This also boosts your chance of obtaining a bird’s nest slightly.
Every little bonus can help when combined with potions, outfits and crystal axes. Keep the avatar active whenever possible.
You will need to have the appropriate clan resources invested into the Woodcrusher avatar in order to summon it. Coordinate with your clan as needed to unlock this benefit.
Chop During Voice of Seren
The Voice of Seren is an effect in Prifddinas that boosts certain skills at different times of the day.
When the Voice is active for Trahaearn district, success chance for gathering skills is increased by 10%.
This includes boosting your bird nest rate while woodcutting. Try to chop trees specifically during the Trahaearn hour for maximum results.
You can find the current active Voice district by opening your world map and looking for the rotating icon over Prifddinas. Plan your woodcutting accordingly.
Combine this boost with your other bonuses like potions and outfit for even higher nest rates while the Voice is active.
Using Luck Enhancers
Certain items in the game can improve your luck and slightly boost nest rates as a result:
- Hazelmere’s signet ring – Provides a hidden +10% luck boost
- LotD – Improves RDT luck which can increase nests slightly
- Luck of the Dwarves – Same benefit as LotD
- Brooch of the Gods – Same benefit as LotD
Equipping any of these items while woodcutting may improve your nest rates slightly. However, the boost is minor compared to potions and outfits.
Still, every little bonus counts when combined together. If you already own one of these items, make sure to wear it when going for nests.
The Hazelmere’s signet ring has the largest impact since it directly boosts your luck stat. But it is extremely expensive and rare.
Chop at Crystal Trees
At level 94 Woodcutting, you can begin chopping crystal trees found at several crystal tree locations.
These trees provide a base 15% chance of obtaining a bird’s nest, higher than any regular tree. They also give improved nest rewards.
Chopping crystal trees is one of the best methods for collecting large quantities of bird nests at higher levels.
Be sure to use all your bird nest boosts like potions and outfit when chopping at crystal trees for extremely high nest rates.
You can also use crystallize while chopping to convert logs into crystal woodcutting experience. This will greatly increase the number of nests you receive per hour.
Pickpocket Master Farmers
An alternative method of obtaining bird nests is pickpocketing master farmers found at several locations around the game.
At level 38 Thieving, master farmers offer very high bird nest rates from pickpocketing. You receive noted nest drops instead of inventory nests.
Using the aura of the goddess active will boost your pickpocketing success chance. Other useful items are exoskeleton outfit, ardy cloak and dodgy necklace.
Target the master farmer NPCs in safe spots like east of Varrock or west of Catherby to avoid taking damage. You can gain 500-800+ nests per hour with max rates.
While pickpocketing has higher effort, it offers comparable nest rates to max efficiency woodcutting. It can be a nice alternative nest method.
Complete Daily Bird House Runs
The hunter skill allows you to build and maintain bird houses that attract birds over time.
Checking your bird houses roughly every hour provides a large quantity of birds nests as a reward.
Use the best available bird houses you can craft based on your Hunter level for maximum nest rewards.
Aim to complete at least 5-6 full daily bird house runs by teleporting to all your house locations each time. This can yield 100-300+ nests per day.
For even more nests, consider doing bird house runs every 50-55 minutes instead of once per hour. The time investment is low for huge nest rewards.
Train Hunting Through Bird Snaring
At level 5 Hunter, you can begin laying box traps that capture birds, providing birds nests as loot.
Using bird snares gives reasonable nest rates between 30-50 nests per hour depending on your Hunter level.
Equip a hunter’s outfit if possible and use potions like extreme hunter for increased catch success. Box trap locations like south of Castle Wars offer good low level training.
While the nest rates are lower than woodcutting and pickpocketing, bird snaring can be a more engaging training method if you enjoy hunter gameplay.
You will also benefit from hunter experience while collecting your nest stacks. It can be a nice alternative to traditional woodcutting training.
Conclusion
In summary, there are a variety of methods you can use to maximize your bird nest rates in RuneScape 3:
- Drink bird nest potions for a strong temporary boost
- Wear Nature’s Sentinel outfit for an outfit bonus
- Complete Falconry miniquest for a permanent 10% boost
- Chop trees with a crystal axe or inferno adze
- Focus on maple trees or higher for best base rates
- World hop for increased global resource spawns
- Activate your clan’s Woodcrusher avatar
- Chop trees during Voice of Seren in Prifddinas
- Equip luck boosting items like Hazelmere’s signet ring
- Chop crystal trees at 94+ Woodcutting
Combining these boosts is key to maximizing your hourly nest rates. You can expect upwards of 1000+ nests per hour with max efficiency methods.
Finding a balance between effort and nest rate that you enjoy will lead to the best results over time. Pay close attention to each boost to ensure it is active when going for nests.
With smart nest hunting strategies, you will be swimming in valuable seeds, rings and feathers before you know it!