Common Bird's Nest - Crucibulum laeve

Description

The small yellowy-brown cup tapers down towards the base and has a pale woolly outside surface. Initially it is covered by a yellowish membrane.  This falls away when the cluster of whitish 'eggs' is mature.  

Similar Species

similar Bird's-nest fungi have greyish or dark 'eggs' (peridioles) and taller or fluted cups.

Identification difficulty
Recording advice

Photograph the fungi in habitat, with details of outer surface of cups, open cups with peridioles ('eggs') or the young cups covered with a membrane.  Note habitat and substrate.

Habitat

Dead wood, including twigs and woodchip.

When to see it

Usually August - September.

VC55 Status

Not commonly recorded.

Further Information

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Common Bird's Nest
Species group:
fungus
Kingdom:
Fungi
Order:
Agaricales
Family:
Records on NatureSpot:
2
First record:
01/01/2026 (Hartshorne, Tim)
Last record:
24/03/2026 (Cunningham, Sally)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

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