Phantom Bird is a rare endemic creature in Monster Hunter World. This animal is tiny and fluffy and is also known as Downy Crake. You have to capture one to complete a research bounty for the Endemic Researcher.
These birds are usually in the field; they are hunted by hunters who have made it their duty to research the New World. However, they are difficult to find, even for highly rated hunters.
If you are to succeed in this quest, you will a high degree of patience. Without it, you will fail.
Where Can You Find Phantom Bird
You can find Phantom Birds in any of the following locations:
- The back of Aptonoth in the Ancient Forest, located in sectors 1 and 8.
- The back of Apceros in the Wildspire Waste, located in sectors 1, 4, and 8.
- The back of Grandfather Mantagrell in Coral Highlands, located in sectors 11 and 13.
Of these three possible locations, the Grandfather Mantagrell is the worst possible location to hunt for this animal. The reason is simple: Grandfather Mantagrells are always flying high in the air and this makes them hard to get. To get a Phantom Bird, you will first have to bring down Grandfather Mantagrells by shooting them with a Slinger. After this, you can then confirm whether the birds are on their backs or not. If they are not, you will have to repeat the whole process again and again until you find what you are looking for.
On the other hand, it is easier to capture Downy Crake via the Aptonoths and Apceroses. These particular monsters can’t fly; they walk around on the ground and this makes it easier to confirm if they have Downy Crakes and then to capture them.
How to Capture Downy Crakes
Phantom Birds spawn randomly, which you cannot control. So, to capture them, you will have to wait for them to appear. Alternatively, you can continually reload the zone until you find them. It is important to note that these birds are shy; as such, they are unlikely to appear if they know you are watching. So, endeavor to stay out of sight at all times. Rely instead on the sounds of birds singing to determine if they have appeared.
Some Monster Hunter players think Phantom Birds spawn only during daytime; however, this is false. These birds can spawn at any time of the day. However, as already said, you might need to wait for a long time before they even appear at all.
When you suspect these birds’ presence, proceed to confirm their identity. Finally, capture them. The tips below will help you do this:
- Put on the Ghillie Mantle to avoid spooking the birds.
- After this, shoot a Flash Pod to stun them.
- Finally, approach them slowly and trap them with your capture net.
When you shoot your capture net, aim for the middle of the group of birds. Naturally, the birds will scatter after your shot and aiming thus will increase your chances of capturing them. To aim, use your controller’s trigger. Then, hold Square on the same when the frame’s outline turns orange.