The female builds the nest. This process is governed by the weather. In typical springs, the nest can take up to three weeks to complete, but if conditions are very good and the birds are late, the nest can be completed in a few days. Nests are typically 1 to 10 meters off the ground, usually composed of dry grasses or pine needles. The nest cup is lined with feathers collected by the male and female.
Feathers continue to be added during egg laying and incubation.
The onset of egg-laying is highly variable. It is influenced by weather and age of the female, rather than how soon pairs return to the breeding site or complete their nest. Females lay one egg per day, but there are occasionally large gaps between the laying of consecutive eggs. Eggs are laid in the morning, usually within two hours of sunrise. The eggs are pure white and become slightly glossy after a few days of incubation.