I can't believe I'm going to argue with Nigel - you should see some of his shots, rka! You should go to his website right away!!!
But... Nigel... isnt' the composition of the shot dependent upon its use?
I think we are all agreed that the white branch could go, but perhaps all three images serve different purposes.
In my VERY UNTALENTED opinion - I think rka's original gives some idea of the "wilderness factor". Of course, there might have been a thousand of these fellas just out of shot, but I get a feeling of remoteness from the photo. And as I said earlier, I think the vividness of the bird perhaps overcomes its size and postion in the photo.
On the other hand, your composition is the kind of thing I would expect to see in a birding magazine. Let me stress, Nigel, I have never been anything less than awe-struck by any of your work, and can only dream of being so good, but would you not agree that you would compose photos in a different way for different circumstances.
Your cropping of rka's shot seems to obey all the rules - the subject is prominent without being too large, the background is neutral and doesn't distract fom the bird, the bird is looking into the frame and is well positioned, the photo is the right shape etc. etc.
But if I have any criticism with the type of photo you get in magazine and guides, it's that they are sometimes so good, that you get the impression that the birds are ten a penny, and that any point-and-click merchant could do the same thing.
Unfair criticism in the context, I know, but I don't get the same feeling of remoteness.
As for my cropping - I could here as I was doing it the voices saying "it's facing the wrong way!".
But I think it works as an image - again helped by the vividness of the bird. I don't think it's superior in any way to the original, but just a different take on the photo - and I deliberately tried not to crop it "guide-book" style. Also, the slightly unusual dimensions took advantage of the branch shape, although I would have prefered a tidier branch.
If all this is anathema Nigel (and IanF and rka and anyone else) then please shoot me down in flames - but I would be happy to hear all opinions.