Rare resident. Inhabits the coniferous (spruce, fir, larch or cedar), rarer mixed forests with dead woods; on Altai up to 1700 m, in Tien Shan between 1500 and 2600 m. Breeds in separate pairs, nest is located in tree holes (spruce, larch) at height up to 20 m above ground. Clutch of 3-5 eggs is laid in May. Both parents incubate clutch (male has a brood patch) and feed juveniles which fledge in July (but nest with nestlings recorded 26 August 1937). Three-toed Woodpecker not disperses in foothills, far from the breeding sites.
В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Сибири". Москва-Екатеринбург, Изд-во "Кабинетный ученый", 2014.