Rare resident. Inhabits rocky gorges with cliffs at altitudes 2800-3500 m, but during dispersal visits foothills (Almaty) and low dry mountains with rocks or clay precipices on plains. The wandering route can move away up to 250-500 km from the breeding place. In December 18-21, 2003 18 birds recorded on clay precipices of Chardara reservoir. Pairs are formed in April. Nest is located in cracks of vertical cliffs at height to 100 m above the cliff’s bottom and at a depth of 0.5 – 1 m from entrance; nest is built from moss, dry grass and hair and is lined with plenty of hair and feathers. Clutch of 2-5 eggs is laid in June – July. Female incubates clutch, male feed her. Both parents feed juveniles which fledge in mid-July – early August. Brood breaks up after a short time, and most of the year birds occur singly. Autumn dispersal begins in end of September – October; birds live outside the breeding places up to March.
"Птицы Казахстана" том 4. "Наука". Алма-Ата, 1972. Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999. Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005.
