The pair mate, select a nest site, and build one of sticks with little regard to lining and other niceties found in other birds' nests. The nests are considered surprisingly strong in spite of their appearance to the contrary. Brooding starts after the second egg is layed and icubation begins. A third egg may be laid, but not usually. Both parents share in the incubation duties.
Conifers are favorite nesting sites.
About two weeks after hatching, the young birds are fully feathered, fledged and on their own. The adult birds are ready to produce another brood. The first brood of the season is now considered adults, and the prolific process of the species is apparent. Reversing those percentages, only 20 to 30 birds out of every 100 live to carry on the species. Average annual mortality rate to maintain a stable population is estimated at 60 percent.