Inhabits mountain forests of eastern and south-eastern Kazakhstan. Please see detailed distribution in the section "Subspecies".
Rare resident. Inhabits mountain spruce or larch forests, on Altai 1400-2000 m, in Tien Shan 1500-3000 m. On dispersal occurs in deciduous, mixed pine-birch and pine forests of river valleys, and in foothills. Breeding in separate pairs. For breeding used the old nests of corvids or the tree holes. Clutches of 3-4 eggs. Fledglings recorded in end of May – mid-June. In early August in Ketmen ridge female from a brood was obtained. Autumn dispersal begins in September. In Ural valley recorded from mid-October.
 Surnia ulula ulula (Linnaeus, 1758)Description. Background color of upper parts is brown lighter lighter than in tianschanica. White spots on upper parts larger than in tianschanica. Individual variability is rather significant, individuals differ by the saturation of basic dark background colour and development of white spotting on upper parts. Some specimens have white colour on upper parts prevails abovethe dark basic background. Width of dark cross strips on under parts individually varies. Male wing length 220-241 (234), female 225-243 (236) mm. |
 Surnia ulula tianschanica (Smallbones, 1906)Description. Background color of upper parts is black-brown, darker than in ulula. White spots on upper parts are smaller than in ulula. Male wing length 238-251 (244), female 243-252 (248) mm. |
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.