Common resident, in places rare winter visitor. Inhabits mountain coniferous (spruce, fir, larch, pine), mixed or birch-willow forests at altitudes up to 1500-1800 m in Altai, or 2500-2700 m in Tien Shan. On dispersal and wintering rare occurs in deciduous forests on plains and in foothills. Pairs are formed in autumn – winter. Breeds in separate pairs at distance 70-80 m from each other. Nest is located in tree-hole (up to 20 m above ground), in ground cavity between stones, tree roots or in cavities of human constructions; for one-two weeks nest is built by female from moss and is lined with plenty of hair. Willing to use nest-boxes. Clutch of 6-9 eggs is laid in early May – end June. For 13-15 days mainly female incubates clutch, male sometimes helps her. Both parents feed juveniles, which fledge at age 19-20 days old, in early June – end August. Re-nesting after loss of first clutch is common. On autumn – winter dispersal occurs singly, in pairs or in small groups from end of September until mid March.
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.