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Common bird's nest fungus (Crucibulum laeve), whole fruiting body
Alexis · CC BY 4.0
Inedible

Common bird’s nest fungus

Crucibulum laeve · Agaricaceae

The common bird's nest fungus (Crucibulum laeve) is a tiny cup 5–10 mm across that holds white, lentil-like spore packets (peridioles) resembling eggs in a nest.

Last updated: Prepared by the Poros Mantar editorial team6 sources checkedReport a correction

FamilyAgaricaceae
SeasonMay, Oct–Mar
Spore printThe spores are held inside the peridioles; no spore print is taken
Height5–10 mm
Records in Turkey42 records
CultivationWild only
StatusInedible

The common bird's nest fungus (Crucibulum laeve) is a tiny cup 5–10 mm across that holds white, lentil-like spore packets (peridioles) resembling eggs in a nest. When a raindrop hits the cup, the eggs are splashed out. The field bird's nest (Cyathus olla) looks similar. It is far too small and tough to eat.

Also called: white-egg bird's nest Turkish: Kuş yuvası mantarı Synonyms: Crucibulum vulgare

Common bird's nest fungus (Crucibulum laeve), whole fruiting body

How to recognise it

Common bird’s nest fungus, part by part

No ring or volva Spore print: The spores are held inside the peridioles; no spore print is taken No distinctive smell.

Common bird's nest fungus (Crucibulum laeve), cap seen from above
CapInstead of a cap there is a cup 5–10 mm across. When young it is closed by a yellowish, felty lid that tears away to open the cup. The outside is yellow-brown and hairy, the inside smooth and pale.
Club surfaceInside the cup are white, flattened, egg-like spore packets (peridioles) 1–2 mm across. In Cyathus olla the packets are grey-silver and the cup is larger and grey-brown.
StemNo stem; the cup sits directly on wood or plant debris.

When and where

May, Oct–Mar

  1. Janin season
  2. Febin season
  3. Marin season
  4. Apr
  5. Mayin season
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Octin season
  11. Novin season
  12. Decin season

Bird's nest fungi appear in Turkey with the autumn and winter rains; our records run from October to March, with some in May.

Type Inedible

Months seen OctoberNovemberDecemberJanuaryFebruaryMarchMay

Colour YellowBrown

Regions Southeastern Anatolia RegionBlack Sea RegionCentral Anatolia RegionMediterranean RegionAegean RegionMarmara RegionManisaMuğlaAnkaraBursaIstanbulKırklareli

Where does common bird's nest fungus grow?

On rotting twigs, wood chips, sawdust, straw and plant debris, in garden mulch and along woodland edges, in crowded groups. Cyathus olla is more often found on plant debris in fields, gardens and open ground.

Where is common bird's nest fungus found in Turkey?

Our map data (GBIF and iNaturalist) holds 25 Turkish records of Crucibulum laeve, 21 of them from Istanbul, plus Tokat, Osmaniye and Bolu. The similar Cyathus olla adds 17 records from Muğla, Kırklareli, Istanbul, Manisa, Adıyaman, Bursa, Ankara, Hatay, İzmir and Samsun.

Other provinces: Samsun (1)

Which months

  1. Jan9
  2. Feb8
  3. Mar3
  4. Apr0
  5. May5
  6. Jun0
  7. Jul0
  8. Aug0
  9. Sep0
  10. Oct4
  11. Nov5
  12. Dec8

common bird's nest fungus map of Turkey: all provinces and months →

13 provinces, 42 observations (GBIF, iNaturalist); months from observation dates. Record density also reflects where observers work.

Latest common bird's nest fungus observations

Common bird's nest fungus (Crucibulum laeve), in its natural habitat
In its habitat
Common bird's nest fungus (Crucibulum laeve), in its natural habitat
In its habitat

Look-alikes

What could it be confused with?

Common bird’s nest fungus can be mistaken for the species below. Each card shows the look-alike and how it differs from Common bird’s nest fungus.

Common bird's nest fungus (Crucibulum laeve), whole fruiting body
This species Common bird’s nest fungus
Field bird's nest (Cyathus olla) Inedible

not Common bird’s nest fungus

Field bird's nest Cyathus olla

Larger (1–1.5 cm), with a grey-brown cup and grey-silver spore packets; it is harmless and goes by the same Turkish name.

Fluted bird's nest (Cyathus striatus) Inedible

not Common bird’s nest fungus

Fluted bird's nest Cyathus striatus

The inside of the cup is clearly fluted, the outside dark brown and shaggy; its packets are grey.

What it contains

It has no culinary value.

General information, not a health claim.

Bird's nest fungi are not known to be poisonous, but at a few millimetres across and tough, they are not eaten. Make sure children do not put garden mushrooms in their mouths; if poisoning is suspected, call poison control.

Frequently asked questions

Is the bird's nest fungus edible?

No. It is not known to be poisonous, but it is only a few millimetres across and tough, so it is not eaten.

Is it poisonous?

It is not listed as poisonous. It is still not an edible mushroom; if a child has put one in their mouth, ask an expert.

What are the eggs inside the cup?

They are peridioles, small packets that hold the spores. When a raindrop hits the cup they are splashed up to a metre away and stick to nearby plants.

Where does it grow?

On rotting twigs, wood chips, mulch, straw and plant debris; it is common in gardens and along woodland edges.

When can you see it?

Our Turkish records run from October to March, with some in May; it is commonest in wet spells.

It appeared in my garden. Is it harmful?

It does not harm plants; it breaks down rotting mulch and wood. There is no need to remove it.

How does Crucibulum laeve differ from Cyathus olla?

Crucibulum laeve is smaller, with a yellow-brown cup and white packets. Cyathus olla is larger, with a grey-brown cup and grey-silver packets.

Where is it found in Turkey?

Our map data has 25 records of Crucibulum laeve (mostly Istanbul) and 17 of Cyathus olla (Muğla, Kırklareli, Istanbul, Manisa and other provinces).

Why does bird's nest fungus grow in mulch?

Bird's nest fungi feed on decaying wood and plant debris, so wood-chip mulch suits them well. They do not harm garden plants and disappear as the mulch breaks down.

What is the difference between bird's nest fungus and artillery fungus?

Both grow in mulch. Bird's nest fungus forms tiny cups holding egg-like spore packets that raindrops splash out. Artillery fungus (Sphaerobolus stellatus) is a tiny orange-cream ball that shoots a sticky black spore mass several metres, leaving hard-to-remove black dots on walls and cars.

When is common bird's nest fungus season in Turkey?

In our calendar, common bird's nest fungus season runs May, Oct–Mar. Bird's nest fungi appear in Turkey with the autumn and winter rains; our records run from October to March, with some in May.

Where does common bird's nest fungus grow?

On rotting twigs, wood chips, sawdust, straw and plant debris, in garden mulch and along woodland edges, in crowded groups. Cyathus olla is more often found on plant debris in fields, gardens and open ground.

Where is common bird's nest fungus found in Turkey?

Our map data (GBIF and iNaturalist) holds 25 Turkish records of Crucibulum laeve, 21 of them from Istanbul, plus Tokat, Osmaniye and Bolu. The similar Cyathus olla adds 17 records from Muğla, Kırklareli, Istanbul, Manisa, Adıyaman, Bursa, Ankara, Hatay, İzmir and Samsun.

What can common bird's nest fungus be confused with?

Common bird's nest fungus can be confused with field bird's nest (Cyathus olla, inedible) and fluted bird's nest (Cyathus striatus, inedible). Look-alikes are compared on this page.

What is common bird's nest fungus called in Turkish?

In Turkish, common bird's nest fungus (Crucibulum laeve) is called Kuş yuvası mantarı.

Related species

All species → · Identify by photo →

Sources

  1. Shabaev ve ark. (2024), Journal of Fungi: Crucibulum laeve odun çürütme yeteneği pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. Wikipedia (EN): Crucibulum laeve en.wikipedia.org
  3. First Nature: Crucibulum laeve first-nature.com
All sources (6)
  1. Wikipedia (EN): Cyathus olla en.wikipedia.org
  2. iNaturalist: Crucibulum laeve (Türkçe ad ve Türkiye gözlemleri) inaturalist.org
  3. GBIF: Türkiye kayıtları gbif.org
Photo credits (16)