This widely ranging species exhibits extensive geographic variation. Birds here in Honshu are G. g. japonicus. Notice the whitish eyes, black lores connected to a broad black moustachial stripe, large white wing-patch, and scaled crown. They differ strikingly from birds in Hokkaido in the G. g. brandtii group characterized by tawny head, streaked crown, and reddish-brown eyes. They also lack the scaled crown and black lores of G. g. japonicus.