Rare, in places common resident. Inhabits riparian woods, deciduous (birch, oak, elm, aspen and other) and coniferous groves with shrubs, both on plains and in mountains up to 1900 m on Altai and 2500 m in Zailiyskiy Alatau. Spring displaying (up to one hundred males) begins in March (on plains) or in April (in mountains), and continues up to the end of May or early June. Nest is built by female usually near mating place, under shelter in shallow hole lined with grass and moss. Clutches of 4-12 eggs in mid-April – end June. Only female incubates for 19-25 days and cares of juveniles, which hatch in early June – mid-July. In August – September birds joined in flocks (males separate from females), and then fly to cereal stubble fields for food (when available) and to forests to roost for safety and security.
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.