The building of the nest is done primarily by the female with the male bringing her the nesting materials. Construction of the nest may take from two to twelve days. The nest is built from dried grasses and weeds. Egg laying may not begin for a week or more after the completion of the nest. Eggs are laid one per day in midmorning.
Incubation begins after the last egg is laid and lasts approximately two weeks.
Incubation is done by the female only. The male will watch the nest when the female leaves to feed herself. At night the male will often stay in or near the nesting cavity. The female will continue to brood the young after they hatch until they start to grow feathers. The egg shells and fecal sacs are carried away or eaten by the adult birds.