The Northern Hawk Owl Focusing

Would this Northern Hawk-Owl gazing maybe be better in a B/W

version be better?

Big THANK for your opinion!

/Charl

Black and white would be different--better, worse, equal? Would need to see. Could be an elegant formal black and white image. Full disclosure: I enjoy more monochromatic or duo-tone images than color; and there are lots of bird photos in color. Also, I'm a birder and appreciate this image as is. Maybe both formats?...

Compositionally, I like the more or less parallel diagonals of the owl's body and lower length of the branch on which it perches. They lead my eye to the owl's gaze.

I'm not opposed to b/w, but IMO it would be difficult to improve this marvelous shot... Mike

To answer your question directly I'd say "no".  This version is lovely.  You already have a form of "color minimization" around brown/ orange tones - which gives a pleasing effect.  I don't think you need any further reduction.