Flicker

Another bird, this time it’s a Northern Flicker taken near Roseburg along the North Umpqua River. I’m not happy with the over exposed buds in the foreground, comments, critiques please.

Canon 5D
Sigma 120mm – 300mm and Sigma 1.4

Imho, your angle of view is more troublesome than buds. Those can easily be burned in or brushed slightly. Colors and pattern in the bird are nice.

David, I think Catherine nailed it with regards to the angle of view to the head of the flicker. This shot shows off the underside and tail color of the flicker well, but doesn't quite have the charm that it would if the flicker was peering down looking at the camera. If the flicker had looked down, this would have been awesome. In this situation, I'll sometimes pish (Are you familiar with that birding term?) just a little to get the bird's attention. On my monitor, it also looks to be just a little too warm; both the flicker and the moss look a little too yellow and magenta.

Would you believe I once had an 18-pound orange Tabby who caught one of those birds? Seriously. And they are big! I don't encourage such activity.
Like the others, I find the angle of view and lighting to be somewhat unfavorable but the bird still comes through well.

I once had a wood stove that trapped a flicker. I kid you not. One Saturday morning while I was drinking my coffee I heard a strange, desperate scratching sound coming from our stove. It was a completely soot-covered flicker, beating itself half to death inside the cold stove. It must have investigated the stainless smoke stack and slid into the stove. Of course I had to grab and toss it outside. Man, those things look big and scary up close and personal!

Edit: Oh yes, the image - It works for me. While not a Field Guide view, gazing up at it's breast makes it look imposing. The patterns hold my interest just fine.