An optical reception circuit and an identification level controlling method for an optical reception circuit are disclosed wherein reception sensitivity degradation arising from transmission waveform degradation by chromatic dispersion can be suppressed. The optical reception circuit includes a photoelectric converter for converting reception light into an electric signal, a pre-amplifying unit for amplifying the electric signal, a main amplifier for amplifying an output of the pre-amplifying unit, a monitor for monitoring the output of the pre-amplifying unit, and a controller for controlling an identification level in the main amplifier based on an output of the monitor. The monitor includes a limiter amplifier for amplifying the output of the pre-amplifying unit, and an average value detector for detecting a time average value of an output amplitude of the limiter amplifier.