![](https://narakiphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/20240407-Z8A_5564-1024x682.jpg)
オオカワラヒワ / Oriental Greenfinch (subspecies)
There is a subspecies of the Oriental Greenfinch (C. s. kawarahiba, オオカワラヒワ), which is a winter bird in the family of the Oriental Greenfinch. I am ashamed to say that I had no idea that such a subspecies existed, but a fellow birder told me about it and I went looking for it.
First of all, here is the subspecies C. s. minor (カワラヒワ). A common Oriental Greenfinch in Japan. According to the illustrated book, the subspecies C. s. kawarahiba has “a stronger grayish-white head than the subspecies C. s. minor, and the white part of the tertials is wider”. Based on this, let us compare the following photos.
![亜種カワラヒワ Oriental Greenfinch (C. s. minor)](https://narakiphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/20210528-DSC_0441-1.jpg)
There were many Oriental Green finches along the Houman River (宝満川) in Fukuoka Prefecture. I thought that they might be here because of its proximity to the continent, so I observed them.
![亜種オオカワラヒワ Oriental Greenfinch (C. s. kawarahiba)](https://narakiphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/20221231-DSC_0387.jpg)
![亜種オオカワラヒワ Oriental Greenfinch (C. s. kawarahiba)](https://narakiphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/20221231-DSC_0399.jpg)
![亜種オオカワラヒワ Oriental Greenfinch (C. s. kawarahiba)](https://narakiphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/20221231-DSC_0408.jpg)
![亜種オオカワラヒワ Oriental Greenfinch (C. s. kawarahiba)](https://narakiphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/20230103-DSC_0473.jpg)
![亜種オオカワラヒワ Oriental Greenfinch (C. s. kawarahiba)](https://narakiphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/20230103-DSC_0498.jpg)
So, it was nothing. Apparently, it was the C. s. kawarahiba that I had always seen in the winter. I now have another finer eye for birds.
![木の枝に10羽ほどで集まるキジバトOriental Turtle Doves gather in groups of about 10 on a tree branch.](https://narakiphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/20230103-DSC_0541.jpg)
![夕暮れを飛ぶ三羽のミヤマガラスのシルエット Silhouettes of three Rooks flying at dusk](https://narakiphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/20221231-DSC_0434.jpg)
![夕暮れを飛ぶミヤマガラスの群れ Flock of Rooks flying at dusk](https://narakiphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/20221231-DSC_0435.jpg)