Nests are usually constructed in the mountains at between
1,000 and 3,000 metres however lower altitude nests do occur, (500 metres in the
Jura). The nest is almost always built in a crack or crevice but several cases
of nesting in buildings have been reported, sometimes simply on a beam in a barn. The nest is constructed by the female alone.
She transports all the materials; mosses, lichens, stems, animal fur and
feathers, however she is accompanied by the male, who it seems simply keeps watch and sings. Of
course this behaviour may be to defend and distract from both the female and the nest site.
Eggs,
3 – 5, are mainly laid in May and both sexes participate in feeding the young. Very
soon after the young birds have fledged the parents push them out of their
territory.
