Woodpecker on the hunt

I  do like the pose you caught this bird in.  Nice colors and details as well.  But, that UFO in the ULHC needs to go. I know it is a tree trunk, I find it very distracting.  I am not sure how you could compose this image without it in there.  Still a neat photo of a bird I am still trying to get a good photo of a wild one!  Thanks for sharing.

I agree with John. Also, a larger image post is really helpful in critiquing. For example, in this image it is very difficult to find much feather detail in the PWP. A larger look might show this better, as well as provide room for suggestions as to how to improve it. I suspect though, the focus on the tree interfered with the focus on the bird.

I agree with the John and Phil about the other tree trunk in the ULC.  It would be really tricky to do nuch about it with some of the other twigs going behind it.  This might be a good candidate for replacing the entire bg and giving it a photo art treatment.  It does look as if the Pileated were a bit soft, though it does add an interesting painterly feel to it.

Here are my edits. I cut out the tree trunk and cloned and blended in the sky. Also clone some branches to overlay them on the cut out.