Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus)

Since you didn't mention camera, lens or specs used, let me speculate. You tell me how close I got.

I'd say you shot this on film using a 35mm system, about a 400mm F5.6 focal length lens. (Probably an 80-400 or 100-400 zoom.) You got right under the bird or the bird just landed while you were standing there. It looks like it was shot wide open and at full focal length. And possibly, you might have used a flash to help with the shadow detail. (Scratch the flash, I'd say you got reflection off the snow on the ground.)

Your review:
The angle to the bird is too steep, I can already feel my neck hurting. You got in too close and you ended up almost losing the tail and the beak.
I would have zoomed out (or stepped back a bit) giving the bird a little more room. Try and get a lower angle at the bird, more of a birds eye view and try and get the bird when it's more in the open. (or at least not partially obscured by branches)

So, how did I do with my guesses?

Thanks for posting Peter and welcome to NSN!

Tony has given you some good pointers here and posting the details of what equipment are used as well as any technique is greatly encouraged in the posting guidelines.

It's good to see an image that looks cold as it has been hot here!

Thanks again for posting and I will be looking for more of your work!

Peter,

You got some great feedback there from Anthony. One more thing I would mention is that when photographing subjects it is important to give the bird/animail/person room to "look into" go room go to into/towards. Images where the front of the subject has no room to go project tension. Sometimes that can be an effective composition tool, but you probably want to do it purposely.

Peter:

I believe you have a good beginning, the introduction of ice gives personality to your picture. Something that I may add is try to wait until the bird looks at you and also it is good idea to obtain a little reflection in the cornea, something we call catchlight, it gives more vibrancy to the subject.

Anthony, Youur "Guess" was 100% right. I used a Nikon D1X with a 80 to 400 MM VR lensat F 5.6. Flash was not used.
Thank you for your input. I appreciate your taking the time to advise me.

Hi Peter---like the red colors here; feel the harsher light works against you but you have received some good pointers and if you get these in your back yard, you'll have many more opportunities to try out the pointers.