These birds possess a brilliant plumage, and a coloring that is surprisingly well-suited to the Amazon jungles bright fruits, flowers and vivid green canopies. Different species of macaws possess varying bright color combinations, such as blue and gold or green and red, along with sporting beautiful long graceful tails. A macaws facial feather pattern is highly distinctive and thought to be as unique as a fingerprint. They have long toes and sharp claws which they use to latch onto branches and examine items, and their first and fourth toes point backward. They've also been observed using their powerful beak as a third leg! Macaws are highly intelligent, mate for life and can live up to 60 years. The vibrant color and pattern of their feathers make them a popular species in the illegal pet trade, which has devastated populations of wild exotic birds.