Red winged Blackbird in it element.

[dankearl]

1/500
f8
400mm
iso400
http://i1021.photobucket.com/albums/af332/dkearl/DSC_6833-1.jpg

[Arthur Morris]

Sharp with a nice BKGR and you handled what looks like harsh light fairly well. There seems to be a bit of haze over the whole image and perhaps a green cast to the BLACKs. Are others seeing those? Lastly, too tight for me; the teasels needed more room at the least.

[gail bisson]

I love the details in the blacks and the crispness of the bird. I like the calling pose and how he is strddling both reeds.
I like the BG and would like to see more of the bottom flower heads.
As a "early intermediate photographer!" I would not have noticed the greenish cast in the black belly feathers but they are definitely there as Artie mentioned.
A very nice dynamic picture,
Gail

[Rodney Flowers]

I like the background and the image is very sharp. I would like it if the head were turned a little more away from the camera. This would help separate the beak from his head in my opinion.

[Robert Amoruso]

Dan,

I agree with Artie and Rodney's comment on the head turn. I find the perch to be too bright - a common problem. I suggest the method I recommended in this post http://www.birdphotographers.net/forums/showthread.php/84842.

I also agree with Arite on the green color cast in the blacks.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Dan, IMO, this will work better as vertical without the teasel on the right. More room is definitely needed at the top. I can see it working well with teasels...but only with a lot of room around.

Excellent pose, details and BG. Looks like you had to reduce contrast or push the shadows to get details in the shaded parts. That has introduced noise. If mine, I'd revise that and keep the blacks deeper.