Welcome back buddy . You did a good job on the rendition but I think the feather can be done better by smaller brush size of smudge tool, and the size of the bird a bit smaller will be better for the composition. Also, a more blurry background is better for the main focus of the image.Good luck !!
PS: I think you should check the second link, it doesn't lead to anywhere, at least with me, and the background looks like a pre-manipulated image because the mountain is similar to a 3D image.

Thanks, buddy. I fixed the second link and I'm working on a new background. Please stand by!

EDIT: And it is done. I did everything you reccomended, Langstrum. Thanks for the advice. Hope the new background works.

Hi, friend, were you lost? Nice to see you again...
It's a very beautiful composition; when we see about the roc on Wiki, we find only b&w illustrations. So, with your entry, we can make our imagination flows about how a roc could be. Really nice entry, GL!

I like the lighting.... Nice job!.... maybe little clean up on edges of wings, imo.
Great entry!

Thanks skeletor. Don't know how much more I can clean up, though...the edges are pretty sharp and clean as far as I can see and the grey outline is part of the feathers.

EDIT: Sorry, my bad! Wings have hopefully been fixed now...

Very nice work author,IMHO background is to much blurry...in high resolution near eye of the bird u have one small red glitch...maybe u could made edges a bit softer,in this case blur tool or smudge,but my advice is smudge...Nice to see u again author...best of luck

Good idea and nice result...

Thanks all! Erathion, I THINK I fixed it but I couldn't really locate the glitch to begin with...hope I blurred the right places :p

aahahaha nice idea!

Nice idea and great result

Very good chop Author

Thanks, everyone! After looking more at the high-res...I realized that I did indeed miss a few white blotches between the wings. Thanks Skeletor! This has been now fixed, and the tips of the wings have been smudged slightly as well.

Oh, the wings are great!