Golden warblers are a rare type of bird that can be found in a few select locations throughout Gielinor in the MMORPG RuneScape. Spotting a golden warbler requires patience and knowing where to look, as these birds tend to hide in hard to reach places. In this guide, we will cover everything you need to know about finding golden warblers in RuneScape.
What are golden warblers?
Golden warblers are small, yellow-colored birds that live in various forests and jungles across Gielinor. They get their name from their brilliant golden plumage. Golden warblers are quite shy and will fly away if players get too close.
These birds like to nest high up in the trees, so they can be hard to spot from the ground. Golden warblers are sought after by player collectors for their feathers and rareness. Catching a golden warbler requires level 57 Hunter and grants 212.5 Hunter experience when caught.
Where to find golden warblers
Golden warblers can only be found in a handful of locations across Gielinor. Here are the main areas where players can hunt for golden warblers:
Eastern Karamja Jungle
The dense jungle covering eastern Karamja contains many exotic creatures and birds, including the golden warbler. They can be found flitting between the trees south of Tai Bwo Wannai Village and east of Shilo Village.
This is one of the more reliable spots to find golden warblers, though competition may be stiff with other players hunting them. Setting up box traps on the jungle floors has a chance of capturing a golden warbler.
Isafdar Forests
The elven forests of Isafdar located in western Tirannwn also harbor populations of golden warblers. They can be found in the trees near the Poison Waste south of Tyras Camp.
This area contains dangerous poison spiders, so players should take antipoison potions before searching for golden warblers here. Setting up box traps among the trees is the best way to catch a golden warbler in Isafdar.
Shade Woods in Morytania
The eerie Shade Woods of Morytania has attracted golden warblers to the forests. They can occasionally be spotted flitting between the trees south of Mort’ton.
This is one of the more dangerous locations due to its close proximity to Mort’ton and potential for shades to attack. Exercise caution when laying traps for golden warblers here.
Gu’Tanoth Bridge
While not their natural habitat, golden warblers have been spotted flying under the bridge leading to Gu’Tanoth in the gnome stronghold. This offers players a convenient location to hunt for the birds without venturing deep into the jungle.
The catch is that obtaining access to the bridge requires partial completion of the Monkey Madness quest. With the right trap placement along the edges, players have a chance at capturing a golden warbler at the bridge.
Verdant Valley in Prifddinas
Deep within the elven city of Prifddinas lies a lush valley filled with vibrant plant life known as the Verdant Valley. Golden warblers have been seen flitting between the trees in this secluded area.
Gaining access to Prifddinas requires the completion of Plague’s End quest. Hunting golden warblers in the valley can be highly rewarding given the area’s beauty and lack of competition from other players.
Tips for catching golden warblers
Catching a golden warbler requires patience and the right strategy. Here are some tips to help you successfully hunt for golden warblers:
- Equip box traps – Box traps are the only way to catch golden warblers. Stock up on box traps and hunter potions to boost your Hunter level.
- Use bait – Golden warblers are more attracted to trapped boxes containing bird meat or seeds. Use high level bait to improve your chances.
- Wear camouflage – Colored camouflage outfits like nature’s sentinel help you blend into the environment, decreasing the chances of scaring off warblers.
- Use scare tactics – Placing lit torch posts near traps may scare golden warblers into your traps as they flee.
- Try during bird house runs – Your chances of encountering golden warblers may be higher while checking bird houses.
- Hop worlds – Hopping worlds can help you find active golden warbler spawns if your current world has none.
- Use alt accounts – Station an alt account at a warbler location to inform you of spawnings.
With the right strategy and a lot of patience, you’ll eventually be able to snag your own rare golden warbler. Remember to have your hunter’s outfit on and be prepared to spend several hours searching. The payoff of obtaining this rare bird is worth it for any avid hunter collector.
What to do with a caught golden warbler
Once you’ve finally caught the elusive golden warbler, you have a couple options for what to do with it:
Kill it for feathers
Killing the golden warbler drops 1-6 golden feathers which can be used for fletching or sold. Golden feathers tend to sell on the Grand Exchange for 2,000 – 5,000 coins each.
Stuff it in your player-owned house
Golden warblers can be stuffed and placed in skill halls, quest halls, and menageries within player-owned houses. This allows you to proudly display your prized catch.
Add it to your zoo in Ardougne
Talk to Jackie the Fruitcake in East Ardougne to add the golden warbler to your personal zoo, if you have one built. This zoo lets you show off rare pets and animals.
Let it go and recatch
You can release the golden warbler and recatch it later to gain additional Hunter experience. But beware, there is a chance it may fly off and not return.
Most players choose to keep the warbler for themselves by displaying it in their POH or zoo. Just be sure not to let it languish in your bank and forget about it!
Is it worth catching golden warblers?
Given the effort it takes to track down and capture a golden warbler, you may wonder if it’s really worth it. Here are the key pros and cons:
Pros
- Grants 212.5 Hunter xp, which is substantial for higher level players
- Golden feathers can sell for decent money
- Extremely rare pet so displaying it shows prestige
- Satisfaction of completing the log for bird collectors
Cons
- Can take hours of fruitless hunting across worlds
- No useful benefits besides hunter xp and gold feathers
- Frequent griefing and competing hunters
- Very limited locations they actually spawn
For serious pet hunters and completionists, the golden warbler is a worthy target. The rewards don’t quite match up to the time investment for casual players though. Go for the gold if you want an exclusive pet to show off in your POH. Otherwise, sticking to regular bird houses may be a better use of time.
Conclusion
The golden warbler remains one of the rarest and most exclusive pets to obtain in RuneScape. By searching the jungles of Karamja and woodlands of Isafdar, a lucky player can add this special bird to their collection. Just be ready for heavy competition from other hunters who desire this status symbol pet.
With the scarcity of golden warbler spawns and their tendency to flee when approached, catching one requires planning, strategy and no small amount of luck. For those enamored with rare pets however, the challenge only adds to the appeal.
Now that you know their habits and favored habitats, you can try your hand at capturing the brilliant golden warbler. Just be sure to watch your step in the deeper jungles, equip your best box traps, and keep your eyes trained on the treetops. With persistence, you may finally add this glittering trophy pet to your menagerie or POH skill hall.
The golden warbler awaits those with the patience and dedication to seek it out. Trust your hunter instincts, and you may soon hold one of Gielinor’s rarest birds for yourself. Best of luck on your search!
