This individual shows loose hair-like feathers on its nape, characteristic of the Bulbul family (Pycnonotidae). Brown-eared Bulbul is sometimes placed in the genus Microscelis (e.g.Brazil 2009) and sometimes in the genus Ixos. The latest version of the Clements checklist reverts the genus to Hypsipetes following recommendations by Oliveros & Moyle (2010).
Up to 14 subspecies have been recognized with northern birds being larger and grayer and southern populations (mostly on small islands) being smaller and browner. Two subspecies are possible in Honshu in the winter, the large gray nominate race which is mostly resident, or the paler H. a. hensoni which is a winter visitor from breeding grounds in Hokkaido. Although hensoni is recognized by Clements, it is usually considered a junior synonym and merged with nominate (HBW, IOC, H&M4). Stejneger (1892) described hensoni as similar to nominate but with noticeably paler flanks and lighter tone to its underparts. However this description was based on an examination of only five Hokkaido specimens. Differences are slight and continued recognition of hensoni is probably not supportable.
References:
Brazil, M.A. (1991) The Birds of Japan. Smithsonian Inst. Press.
Brazil, M. 2009. Birds of East Asia. Princeton Univ. Press.
Fishpool, L. & Tobias, J. (2017). Brown-eared Bulbul (Hypsipetes amaurotis). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/58035 on 21 June 2017).
Oliveros, C.H. & Moyle, R.G. (2010) Origin and diversification of Philippine bulbuls. Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 54(3): 822–832.
Stejneger, Leonhard. 1892. Notes on a collection of birds made by Mr. Harry V, Henson in the Island of Yezo, Japan. Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 15(904): 289-359, 1 pl.. doi:10.5479/si.00963801.15-904.289