Northern mockingbirds typically nest in shrubs and trees, usually placing their nests about 3 to 10 feet above the ground, though sometimes nests can be found as high as 60 feet. The male generally selects the nest site and starts building several nests, from which the female chooses one to complete and lay eggs in. Their nests are open cups made of dead twigs lined with grasses, rootlets, leaves, and sometimes human-made materials like bits of plastic or foil. They rarely reuse old nests but may build new ones on top of previous nests
. These birds prefer habitats with dense low shrubs and open ground such as suburban hedges, parklands, cultivated land, and second growth areas. They avoid densely forested areas and favor open woodlands, forest edges, and urbanized settings where they can forage on short grass or open soil
