Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

[Bob Howdeshell]

The best image of this species that I have managed to date. All comments / advice appreciated.
Cades Cove - Great Smoky Mountain National Park - east Tennessee, USA

http://bhowdy.smugmug.com/Small-Birds/Yellow-bellied-Sapsucker/ybss001/728525465_yMXu3-L.jpg

Canon 1D Mark III - Canon 500mm f/4L IS
ISO 400 - f/5.0 - 1/320 - 500mm

[Steve Canuel]

Nice looking bird on a tree with some character. Nice eye contact too. I'm seeing a strong cyan cast which may be enhanced by the colors of the lichens. I might also remove the two twigs breaking the clean line of the trunk above the bird's head.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Looks like you had a good opportunity here. Was the bird cooperative enough that you could have scooted around to the other side for better light angle? If not, then this would have benefitted from some flash. Good pose from this fella, and you got lots of nice yellow showing on the belly. I would not hesitate getting rid of the twig above the head using the patch/clone tools (if you are not against that type of image manipulation).

[Dave Leroy]

Good looking bird with nice ha and sharp details. It would have really been nice from the other side of tree. Well done. Dave