Fantastic detail in this portrait. The eyes are wonderful - I like the way the bird is looking off into the distance. The BG is a bit busy for my taste; the white streaks (which I assume are OOF distant branches/foliage) are a distraction. Still, an excellent shot.
Michael, I like the composition and I'd be tempted to take a small sliver off the top to equal the space on the left side if it were mine. I like the pose and the BG fades away nicely. Great capture!