Here's an image which takes a more environmental approach without the usual big subject with a lot of details. I personally quite like images that portray birds in their natural environment rather than big portraits. Not sure if it works for you? :)
There is much beauty in this well-made image. I also like shots of birds in their environment. I like this photo. It has a "gentle" feel to it that I normally wouldn't associate with a woodpecker. I would like it even more in a crop that takes approx. 1/5 or 1/4 of it off the bottom. As it is, for me, it has "too much environment" for the bird. This may be - at least in part - because the of the similarities in the tones of the bird and the branch. Perhaps a brightly colored bird would have enough power in color to make up for lack of size. The only element of the image that distracts my eye is the vertical reed in the left-lower portion.
The things I like in this image are the soft light, the bird´s pose, sharpness, eye contact and nice Bg. The composition works for me but I would prefer the bird more placed at the top right corner. Of course, David approach is another option to take into account. Very nice species, by the way.