yup D7000 is quit an advance DSLR ...it would certainly be an overkill for starters
let me use it for a week then I can review it
the main points different from D7100 -
D7100 have much better focus module
D7100 have better weather sealing
D7100 can autofocus even on f8 lenses example 300mm f4+ 2x TC = 600mm f8
D7100 have newer sensor and no low pass filter..due to that pics are much more sharper but grainier
D7100 have a software 1.3x crop mode which gives faster burst rate and good for birding
but all these good things do not justify the 25k more cost from D7000
*farm4.staticflickr.com/3708/12361130245_7d82ea494d_z.jpg
Purple sunbird by sujoyp, on Flickr