Three-toed Woodpecker

Flash allows you to expose for the highlights and then let the flash fill the shadows, reducing the dynamic range of the image to allow it to be captured easier. Also, by using a beamer, you increase the flash's range. It might also allow you to reduce the brightness of the background while keeping good exposure on the subject. It can also be used to add a catchlight when the sun is not out.

This is not all a panacea. On your camera, you might be too limited in your aperture since the camera has a relatively slow sync speed. I'm also pretty sure that "high speed" mode is not allowed for that camera.

In this image, the OOF bright highlights are a bit distracting. Also putting the bird further left in the image might strength it. You might want to crop some of the left off the image.

Jussi, good job getting this guy. I think a tighter crop would work better. Also I might clone out the two white OOF objects, jut above the bird.

Hi Jussi. This is really neat looking woodpecker. I love the touch of yellow on the head and the overall monochrome appearance of this shot. I think Alan's suggestions for cropping and cloning are both great and I'd love to see a repost with the suggestions applied.

Good effort

Wonderful image. Count me in as another vote for Alan's crop and clone suggestion.

Jussi:
Nice bird and I am glad you got a rare one!!
exposure if pretty good, but flash is a lot of help when used properly!!
Here the BG is a little cluttered, But Alan's suggestion is a great one
Congrats!!