Newbie attempting to do a complex model

[ZYX]

Hi, I have been working in this project for about a week or so. Yes, I know it's tricky to model organisms and I'm just a noob, I looked to a few tutorials and some (but not much) bird anatomy for modelling the wings, tail, head, etc.
I have been looking for some textures but I was unsuccessful finding them, here is how my model actually looks like (with turbosmooth modifier applied).
Any help would be really appreciated.

[Zom-B]

good start! I would say some more work for the claws is needed now...

regarding texturing... this is the really hard part!

First of you have to UVmap your mesh, after this is done you have to paint it using reference material and copying areas over to your bird...

for the painting you could DL a 30days trial version of Photoshop and import the mesh and give it a try (possible since CS4).

Google with key elemts from this advice to get some tutorials

[CTZn]

Agreed, good start !

Not sure about the bird you are aiming at, here is some material (link removed).

But as Zom-b said, you will need to conform UVs first.

[ZYX]

Thanks guys, I'm actually working on the mesh for now, I'll leave UVs for later. Oh and BTW, thanks for the link CTZn I'm already making textures from that ^_^

[Soup]

Thanks guys, I'm actually working on the mesh for now, I'll leave UVs for later. Oh and BTW, thanks for the link CTZn I'm already making textures from that ^_^

Is that the mesh on the left? It looks really good!

[ZYX]

Thanks Soup, guess I'm leaving this for some days (I'm going to a vacation trip ). I have already done the UVs but I don't have enough time to post it now.

[ZYX]

I'm back from my vacations, I'll be working on this from time to time. Btw, I have to delete the UVs and work again on the mesh, I'll need to re-design the wing and the head and... uhmm... I actually have no clue about the edgeflow for them, hehe

[CTZn]

Try to represent yourself the orientation of the feathers trunk at the skin interface, this should help.