All right well I think I'll just chop of the tails... they're a very nice addition but perhaps its usage is outweighed by the size of the image. I'm fixing up the shoulders and neck as of now. The eye is meant to be that way, perhaps you are viewing it a different way than i am? Here is the reference i used
http://www.wuzware.com/artwork/phoenix.jpg
UPDATE: Various edits as seen in signature.