Bird id help please

[Giphsub]

Can any of you smart folk help me id these birds? Or at least point me in the direction of what family they might be in? Thanks.

Bird #1 (heavy crop)
Front
http://giphsub.smugmug.com/photos/250634111-L.jpg

Side
http://giphsub.smugmug.com/photos/250634138-L.jpg

Bird #2
Front
http://giphsub.smugmug.com/photos/250634295-L.jpg

Side
http://giphsub.smugmug.com/photos/250634219-L.jpg

Bird #3
Some kind of sparrow I think, but it is a bit different to the usual ones I see here in Japan. Am I on the right track?
http://giphsub.smugmug.com/photos/250634347-L.jpg

Bird #4
Again a sparrow, I think...
http://giphsub.smugmug.com/photos/250634365-L.jpg

Any comments also welcome.

[leaforte]

I can't help with indentity but I really like the colors of bird # 3. Soft, creamy, with the reds as a nice contrast.

[JenGrace]

Bird #2 looks like a brambling (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brambling). Still looking for the others. Are you still in Japan? My bird books are eastern U.S.

[jwear]

I will go along with 2 bramling, savanah sparrow that is a guess and the other a wabler or chickadee but not sure :huh I do not speak Japanese :D

[Giphsub]

I can't help with indentity but I really like the colors of bird # 3. Soft, creamy, with the reds as a nice contrast.

Thanks Leaforte. Yeah that shot came out quite nicely.

[Giphsub]

Bird #2 looks like a brambling (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brambling). Still looking for the others. Are you still in Japan? My bird books are eastern U.S.

Thanks Jen :thumb That looks on the money for #2 Yep, I am still in Japan. Live here, and have been here for 10 years. Although I'm moving back to Australia in a couple of months.

[Giphsub]

I will go along with 2 bramling, savanah sparrow that is a guess and the other a wabler or chickadee but not sure :huh I do not speak Japanese :D

Thanks Jeff. I'll see if I can find some info here on those. Thanks for the head start :thumb

[Maestro]

I'm not up on Japanese birds but the first two look like a type of shrike. Look into that species in Japan. Nice color in those pics.

[Giphsub]

Thanks Stephen :thumb Will follow that up and see if I can find it.

[Giphsub]

This Japanese shrike (mozu) looks like the same fella... Thanks Stephen.

http://cmcnine.web.infoseek.co.jp/Ee2a9503_6.JPG
http://giphsub.smugmug.com/photos/250634138-L.jpg