Generally, bird’s nest can be classified into 6 categories: Whole Bird’s Nest, Bird’s Nest Strips, Bird’s Nest Edges, Bird’s Nest Filament, Bird’s Nest Biscuit and Bird’s Nest Fragments.

The most popular shapes are boat or spoon shape.

Whole Bird’s Nest
Whole Bird’s Nest is the complete cup-shaped bird’s nest which is the best grade of bird’s nest. The shape is large and full, with a high density of fine fibers, just like the original 180° anglednests built on the wooden boards of the swiftlet farm. Whole Bird’s Nest can be further divided into different grades according to the size and the completeness of the cup-shapes. Whole Bird’s Nest in complete cup-shape that is large, clean, pure in color and has minimal impurities is of top grade.

Bird’s Nest Strips
Some of the Whole Bird’s Nest gets broken during the process of picking feathers, packaging or transportation and becomes an incomplete cup-shape. These broken pieces of Whole Bird’s Nest are Bird’s Nest Strips. The texture is not as good as Whole Bird’s Nest but the nutritional value is the same. Since it’s not in complete cup-shape, the price is lower than Whole Bird’s Nest.

Bird’s Nest Edges
These are the horny bases which support both ends of the nest. It is the most concentrated areas of swiftlet saliva, thus harder and requiring a longer time to soak.

Bird’s Nest Filament
Bird’s Nest Filament refers to Bird’s Nest Strips that are smaller and thinner in size.

Bird’s Nest Fragment
Small pieces or fragments of bird’s nests that get broken during the processes of cleaning right down to packaging are normally used to make Bird’s Nest Biscuits.

Bird’s Nest Biscuit
Bird’s Nest Biscuits are shaped in a cup-shape mold using Bird’s Nest Strips, Bird’s Nest Thin Strips and Bird’s Nest Fragments. The price of Bird’s Nest Biscuits is relatively lower.