Common, in some places rare resident. Inhabits the old deciduous, mixed and coniferous forests on plains and in mountains at altitudes up to 2600 m. On dispersing occurs in gardens, shelterbelts and very rare in open treeless landscape with bushes only. Breeds in separate pairs in tree holes (asp, willow, birch, pine or spruce) at height 2-20 m above the ground. Clutch of 5-7 eggs is laid in end of April to late May. Female incubates clutch for 13-14 days. Both parents feed juveniles which fledge in end June – late July.
Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005. Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999. В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Урала, Приуралья и Западной Сибири". Екатеринбург. Изд-во Уральского университета, 2000.