Bird Nest Seeds OSRS A Comprehensive Guide

In Old School RuneScape (OSRS), bird nest seeds are a valuable resource for players looking to level up their Farming skill or make some extra gold. These nests, which can contain tree or fruit tree seeds, are obtained through various activities like Woodcutting, bird house trapping, and trading with Wyson the gardener. This guide dives into everything you need to know about bird nest seeds, including how to get them, what seeds you might find, and tips to maximize your rewards. Whether you’re an Ironman or a main account player, understanding the mechanics of bird nest seeds can boost your efficiency and profits.
Bird nests are items that randomly drop during certain activities, and seed nests specifically contain tree or fruit tree seeds used in the Farming skill. When you open a seed nest, you also receive an empty nest, which can be crushed for Herblore or traded. These seeds range from low-level acorns to high-value options like magic or dragonfruit seeds, making them a sought-after reward for both skillers and PvMers.
Types of Bird Nests
Not all bird nests contain seeds. Here’s a quick breakdown of the types you might encounter:
- Seed Nests: Contain tree or fruit tree seeds, plus an empty nest.
- Ring Nests: Hold jewelry like gold or sapphire rings, often less valuable.
- Egg Nests: Include bird eggs (red, blue, or green), which can be offered at the Woodcutting Guild shrine for Prayer XP and a seed nest.
- Clue Nests: Rare nests with clue scrolls, not seed-related but worth mentioning.
Why Seed Nests Matter
Seed nests are particularly valuable for Ironman accounts, as they provide a passive way to gather high-level seeds without relying on PvM drops or Grand Exchange purchases. For main accounts, rare seeds like yew or magic can be sold for significant OSRS gold, making nests a profitable side hustle.
How to Obtain Bird Nest Seeds
There are several methods to acquire seed nests in OSRS, each with its own requirements and strategies. Below, we explore the most effective ways to farm them.
Woodcutting
Chopping trees gives a 1/256 chance per log to receive a bird nest, regardless of tree type (except redwoods, which only drop clue nests). A chirping sound and a chat message (“A bird‘s nest falls out of the tree”) signal a drop, and the nest despawns after 2 minutes if not picked up .
- Boosts: Equipping a Woodcutting cape increases nest chance by 10%. Wearing a strung rabbit foot reduces seed nest probability (65/100 to 60/95) in favor of ring or egg nests .
- Tip: Chop high-yield trees like magic or yew for faster logs, indirectly increasing nest drops over time.
Bird House Trapping
Bird house trapping on Fossil Island is a passive Hunter method that yields seed nests. After setting up birdhouses with seeds, wait ~50 minutes for them to fill with birds and nests. Each birdhouse guarantees at most one seed nest, with higher Hunter levels improving the odds .
- Requirements: Bone Voyage quest, 5+ Hunter and Crafting, logs, clockworks, and seeds (e.g., tomato or cabbage).
- Boosts: Unlike Woodcutting, the strung rabbit foot doesn’t affect seed nest rates here but increases ring/egg nest drops .
- Tip: Use a digsite pendant and magic mushtree for fast travel to Verdant Valley and Mushroom Meadow.
Trading with Wyson the Gardener
In Falador Park, Wyson trades mole claws and skins for a unique seed nest variant. These nests have a different drop table, often yielding low-level allotment seeds but occasionally high-value ones like dragonfruit or redwood .
- Requirements: Defeat the Giant Mole for claws/skins.
- Boosts: Noted items are accepted, and nest boxes are given if inventory space is limited.
- Tip: Farm the Giant Mole with a Falador shield for teleports and efficient runs.
Other Methods
Seed nests can also appear through:
- Managing Miscellania: Assign workers to maple, teak, or mahogany logs for a chance at nests.
- Gnome Restaurant: Rare tips may include seed nests.
- Ent Trunks: Chopping ent trunks during Forestry events can drop nests.
Seed Nest Drop Table What You Can Get
The seeds in bird nests vary widely in value, from near-worthless to jackpot-level. Below is a table summarizing the seeds you might find in regular seed nests (not Wyson’s), based on community data and updates post-Farming Guild (2019) .
Seed | Approx. Drop Rate | GE Value (GP) | Farming Level |
---|---|---|---|
Acorn | ~20.3% | ~100 | 15 |
Apple tree | ~14.7% | ~500 | 27 |
Maple | ~5% | ~10,000 | 45 |
Yew | ~3.7% | ~37,000 | 60 |
Magic | ~0.7% | ~100,000 | 75 |
Dragonfruit | ~0.6% | ~150,000 | 81 |
Note: Wyson’s nests lean toward allotment seeds (e.g., cabbage, tomato) but can include high-value seeds like celastrus or redwood, with an average nest value of ~10,764 GP .
Rare Seeds and Their Uses
High-level seeds like magic, yew, or dragonfruit are the real prizes. Magic seeds grow into trees yielding high Woodcutting XP, while dragonfruit trees provide valuable fruit for Herblore and Cooking. Ironmen benefit most, as these seeds reduce reliance on bossing for Farming supplies.
Average Value of Seed Nests
Based on drop rates, the average seed nest from Woodcutting or bird houses is worth ~10,609 GP, while Wyson’s nests average slightly higher at ~10,764 GP . Empty nests add minor value (~271 GP when crushed for Saradomin brews).
Tips to Maximize Bird Nest Seed Gains
To get the most out of seed nests, consider these strategies tailored for efficiency and profitability.
Optimize Woodcutting Runs
Focus on trees with high log output to trigger more nest rolls. Equip a Woodcutting cape if possible, and avoid the strung rabbit foot unless you prefer egg/ring nests for Prayer XP or jewelry.
Master Bird House Runs
Bird house trapping is ideal for passive gains. Follow this route for speed:
- Teleport to Fossil Island via digsite pendant.
- Use the magic mushtree to reach Verdant Valley (check/set northern, then southern birdhouse).
- Teleport to Mushroom Meadow (check northern birdhouse, then run south to Tar Swamp for the last).
- Use cheap seeds like tomato to save gold, as seed type doesn’t affect rewards .
Farm the Giant Mole for Wyson Nests
Kill the Giant Mole for claws and skins, then trade with Wyson. Use a Falador teleport and prayer-boosting gear to extend trips. Noted items make bulk trading easy, and nest boxes help with inventory management.
Leverage Miscellania
Keep your kingdom’s coffers full and approval rating at 100% to maximize nest rewards from woodcutting tasks. Check daily for best results.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Here are pitfalls to steer clear of when hunting for seed nests:
Using Expensive Seeds in Birdhouses
High-level seeds like ranarr don’t improve nest rewards, so stick to cheap options like cabbage or onion to cut costs .
Ignoring Hunter Levels
For bird house trapping, higher Hunter levels directly increase seed nest chances. Use a hunter potion (+3 boost) if you’re close to a threshold .
Missing Nest Drops
During Woodcutting, stay alert for the chirp or chat message, as nests despawn quickly. Clear inventory space to avoid missing them.
By combining these methods and tips, you can efficiently farm bird nest seeds in OSRS, whether for Farming XP, gold, or Ironman self-sufficiency. Start chopping, trapping, or trading today to reap the rewards!