Kuku Bird Mount
Complete guide to Kuku Bird Hatchling mounts in Crimson Desert, including location, how to obtain, gliding mechanics, and tips for using them effectively.
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Kuku Bird Hatchlings are unique temporary mounts in Crimson Desert that offer gliding capabilities. Unlike horses and bears, Kuku Birds allow players to glide safely from elevated positions, making them useful for navigating steep terrain. They are found exclusively in the Steel Mountains region, where Blinding Arrow soldiers ride them as patrol mounts.
Kuku Bird Hatchlings are found in the Steel Mountains, east of the Spire of Insight in the Grace Estate region. They are ridden by Blinding Arrow faction soldiers who patrol this area on mounted patrols. You will not find Kuku Birds roaming freely; they are always initially mounted by enemy soldiers. Multiple Blinding Arrow patrols operate in the area, so if one escapes, look for another patrol nearby.
Step 1: Travel to the Steel Mountains east of the Spire of Insight. If you have previously unlocked the Abyss Nexus waypoint nearby, you can fast travel there.
Step 2: Locate a Blinding Arrow soldier riding a Kuku Bird Hatchling. These soldiers patrol on set routes.
Step 3: Defeat the soldier in combat. Once the rider is defeated, the Kuku Bird becomes riderless.
Step 4: The Kuku Bird will attempt to run away quickly after its rider is killed. Chase it down and press the ride button to mount it.
Act fast after defeating the soldier. Kuku Birds run very fast once their rider is eliminated, so sprint immediately and close the gap. Using a ranged attack to stagger the bird or mounting from horseback to chase it down both help. If the bird escapes completely, look for another Blinding Arrow patrol in the area.
The primary appeal of Kuku Birds is their gliding ability. While mounted on a Kuku Bird, you can:
Glide from Heights: Jump off any elevated position (cliff, mountain ledge, tower) and the Kuku Bird will glide instead of falling. You take zero fall damage while gliding.
Control Direction: While descending, you have full directional control to steer toward your target landing zone. Use the movement stick or WASD to adjust your glide path.
Cover Large Distances: Starting from a high point, you can cover massive horizontal distances. The Steel Mountains have many elevated positions that make gliding very effective for traversal.
Kuku Birds cannot gain altitude. They are strictly gliders, not true flying mounts. You must start from a high point to take advantage of the gliding mechanic. The higher your starting position, the further you can glide.
Once you successfully mount a Kuku Bird, it becomes docile. Unlike bears, which turn hostile upon dismount, Kuku Birds will wander around the area after you dismount. They will not run away from you or attack you after you have ridden them once. This means you can dismount, complete a task, and remount the same Kuku Bird as long as it has not wandered too far away.
Temporary Mount: Kuku Bird Hatchlings are temporary mounts. You cannot register them at stables, summon them, or keep them permanently.
No Stabling: There are no known facilities that accept Kuku Birds for permanent storage.
Limited Location: They are only found in the Steel Mountains area, so you cannot easily access them from other regions.
No Ascending Flight: Kuku Birds can glide downward but cannot fly upward. They are not full flying mounts. The only true flying mount in the game is the Blackstar Dragon, obtained at the end of Chapter 11.
No Combat Abilities: Unlike bears, Kuku Birds do not have combat moves. They are purely a traversal mount.
Feature | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Primary Use | Gliding / traversal | Combat | Combat |
Location | Steel Mountains only | Forests across Pywel | Demeniss circus |
After Dismount | Docile, stays nearby | Turns hostile | Turns hostile |
Combat Ability | None | Claw swipes (AoE) | Bite attacks |
Speed | Fast on ground, glides | Slow | Moderate |
Remountable | Yes | No (turns hostile) | No (turns hostile) |
Kuku Birds are extremely useful for descending from the Steel Mountains to lower elevations without taking fall damage. Glide down to Pailune or other regions below.
If the bird runs away after you defeat the soldier, sprint after it immediately. Using your horse to chase it can also work.
Combine Kuku Bird gliding with Abyss Nexus fast travel points for efficient traversal in the Steel Mountains area. Fast travel up, glide down.
Remember that you can remount a Kuku Bird after dismounting, since they stay nearby and remain passive. Use this to glide multiple times from the same peak.
If you need a mount that can actually fly upward, the Blackstar Dragon (obtained during Chapter 11) is the only option in the game.
Kuku Birds are fragile and can be killed by enemies if they wander into hostile territory. Park them in a safe spot before engaging nearby enemies.