Breeding in Altai at Beloubinskiye lakes and on Ivanovskiy ridge, two juvenile birds observed on northern slope of Yuzhno Altaiskiy ridge 3 August 1987 and on Kurchumskiy ridge at Markakol lake. Near Berel several birds (a brood?) recorded 31 July 2004. On dispersal and in winter occurs on Markakol lake, in Altai foothills from Semipalatinsk up to Ust-Kamenogorsk and in Zaysan depression. Vagrant bird observed 21 September 1963 in mountains Kyzyltau, Kazakhishe upland.
Rare resident. Inhabits cedar-larch light forest without height grass at 1900-2000 m. In winter prefers bush thickets, aspen-birch coppice forest with bushes, and vicinity of villages and towns. Brood of five juveniles depended on parents, recorded in 17 July 1971; two juveniles begin to moult observed at 3 August 1987. In winter observed from December until February – 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.
