The colors of Feathers

This is my Blue and Gold Macaw, named Sam. He's 21 years old, so I have about 60 more years with him. Today, he is helping me with a little demonstration. Also, helping me is the re-gifted iPhone 6, and new Olloclip macro lens attachment with 21x 😃
We see bird feather colors a couple of different ways. One, is if the feathers are pigmented, the other is from how the feather is structured that allows us to see certain colors refracted. The colors that a feather can truly be, because of pigment are: black, white (this includes the gray spectrum), brown, yellow, and some reds. You will notice that it does not include blue. A Blue Jay is not a blue bird, nor is my Sam. And, a peacock's colors are not as real as we thought. When those feathers are held up to the light, we see their true color. Sam's blue feather, becomes brownish gray.
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Sam



One of Sam's 'Blue' wing feathers.  He naturally molts the feathers, and I collect them.



'Blue' feather under 21x



'Blue' feather held up to light 21x



Yellow feather is pigmented, and remains yellow even when held to light.