The Bird Key in Link’s Awakening is an important item that allows Link to access Eagle’s Tower. Getting the Bird Key requires completing a chain of events across Koholint Island. Here is a guide to obtaining the Bird Key in Link’s Awakening.
Prerequisites for Getting the Bird Key
Before you can get the Bird Key, there are a few prerequisites:
- You must have the Pegasus Boots, which allow Link to dash into objects. The Pegasus Boots are obtained in the Key Cavern dungeon.
- You must have the Power Bracelet, which allows Link to lift heavy objects. The Power Bracelet is found in Bottle Grotto.
- You must have learned the “Ballad of the Wind Fish” song from Marin and Tarin at Toronbo Shores.
How to Get the Bird Key
Once you have the prerequisites, here are the steps to get the Bird Key:
- Lift the rock outside of Madam MeowMeow’s house using the Power Bracelet. Underneath is a passageway leading to Chain Chomps.
- Make your way through the Chain Chomp pits and cross through the hallway with moving flame traps. At the end is a treasure chest containing a Stick.
- Take the Stick and head to the Ukuku Prairie. Look for the sleeping walrus near the pool of water.
- Use the Stick on the sleeping walrus to wake him up. After waking up, the walrus will move out of the way, revealing a cracked wall.
- Dash into the cracked wall using the Pegasus Boots to break it down. This will reveal a new passageway.
- Go down the passage and defeat all the enemies within, eventually reaching a treasure chest containing the Angler Key.
- Now take the Angler Key to the Angler’s Tunnel located south of Martha’s Bay. Unlock the door inside to access the tunnel.
- Make your way through the Angler’s Tunnel, defeating the enemies and avoiding hazards along the way.
- At the end of the tunnel is the Angler Fish’s Pond. Play the “Ballad of the Wind Fish” in front of the pond to make the Angler Fish appear.
- The Angler Fish will surrender the Bird Key to Link. This completes the quest!
Detailed Walkthrough
Here is a more detailed walkthrough covering every step to get the Bird Key:
Getting the Stick
Start at Madam MeowMeow’s house located north of the Village Library. Lift the rock outside her house with the Power Bracelet to reveal a staircase going underground. Go down the stairs and walk left or right to enter the first Chain Chomp pit room.
Defeat the two Anti-Fairies in this room, then go down through the opening at the bottom wall. In the next room, quickly go across the unstable floor that crumbles when stepped on. Open the treasure chest at the end to get 50 rupees.
In the following room, carefully cross the narrow path lined with spikes on both sides. Then enter the next room and defeat the three Spark enemies while avoiding the pits in the floor. Continue to the room with four flame traps moving in patterns around the floor. Quickly avoid the flames and go up to the doorway at the top.
The final room contains a treasure chest with the Stick. Now exit the underground passage back up the stairs and return above ground.
Waking the Walrus
With the Stick in hand, go east of the Village Library to the Ukuku Prairie. Near the pool of water is a sleeping walrus. Use the Stick on the walrus to wake him up.
After waking up, the surprised walrus will shift position, revealing a cracked wall behind him. Plant a Bomb or use the Pegasus Boots to dash into the wall and break it down.
Go into the new passage and defeat the two Hardhat Beetles by picking them up with the Power Bracelet and tossing them into the pit below. Then cross over the pit using the moving platform.
In the next room, defeat the three Slimes that fall from the ceiling. Take the stairs down to find five more Slimes. Defeat them, then hit the crystal switch in the north wall to open the locked door.
The next room contains three Armos Knights. Defeat them by planting Bombs and picking them up with the Bracelet to toss into the pit. Enter the opened door to find two Stalfos. Defeat them with your Sword while blocking their attacks with your Shield.
Finally, open the treasure chest to obtain the Angler Key. Now we can access the Angler’s Tunnel.
Angler’s Tunnel and Angler Fish
Go south of Martha’s Bay to find the entrance to the Angler’s Tunnel. Unlock the door with the Angler Key and step inside.
The first room contains some Keese enemies. Defeat them and continue downward, going left or right to reach the next room. Here you’ll find three Blue Bubble enemies that must be defeated with the Boomerang.
The following room has eight Anti-Fairies. Defeat all of them to unlock the door, then continue to the Horned Hippo mini-boss. Dodge the Hippo’s charges and strike it with your Sword when it pauses.
After defeating the Hippo, grab the Piece of Power it drops. Go up the stairs to the final room. Step on the floor switch here to unlock the doors, then go left or right to find fairies that fully restore your health.
Finally, go down the center path and exit out the door to reach the Angler Fish’s Pond. Stand at the edge of the water and play the “Ballad of the Wind Fish” on your Ocarina.
This will summon the giant Angler Fish. It will speak to Link and surrender the Bird Key, completing the lengthy quest. Now you can access Eagle’s Tower!
What the Bird Key Unlocks
The Bird Key unlocks the entrance to Eagle’s Tower located in the northern region of Koholint Island’s Tal Tal Mountain Range. Eagle’s Tower is the seventh dungeon in Link’s Awakening.
To enter Eagle’s Tower, go to the tall peak at the top-right section of the Tal Tal Mountains. You will see a small shrine with a locked door. Use the Bird Key here to unlock the door and enter.
Inside Eagle’s Tower, Link will battle through rooms filled with tough enemies and complex puzzles. At the top is the Giant Moldorm mini-boss, followed by the Evil Eagle dungeon boss.
Defeating the Evil Eagle is necessary to wake the Wind Fish and complete the game. So the Bird Key provides access to a critical dungeon in Link’s Awakening.
Tips for Getting the Bird Key
Here are some useful tips to get through this lengthy side quest for the Bird Key:
- Bring plenty of Bombs and recovery items. You’ll need Bombs to defeat some enemies.
- Dash carefully across crumbling floors to avoid falling into pits.
- Use Roc’s Feather to jump over any pits or spikes.
- Defeat the Anti-Fairies in each room before moving forward.
- Lift and throw the Armos Knights to easily defeat them.
- Use your Shield against the Stalfos to block their sword swings.
- Equip the Boomerang before entering rooms with Blue Bubbles.
- Wait for the Hippo’s pause, then strike with your Sword.
- Collect the fairies before the Angler Fish room to recover health.
With proper preparation and patience, you’ll persevere through the obstacles and finally claim the Bird Key. Just follow the steps and you’ll soon experience Eagle’s Tower.
Conclusion
Obtaining the Bird Key in Link’s Awakening takes some time and effort, but it unlocks a major dungeon in the game. Following the prerequisites, waking the walrus, traversing the Angler’s Tunnel, and playing the “Ballad of the Wind Fish” ultimately leads to acquiring this key item.
With the Bird Key in hand, Link can access Eagle’s Tower and move closer to waking the Wind Fish. Just be patient in working through each step of the process and the key will be yours!