The Silkie bantam is the only breed of bantams with black pigmented skin. The feathers are without the usual forms of webs, that is, there is a lack of adhesion of the barbs to one another which gives the appearance of down or silky hair, hence the name silken or Silkie. Another distinguishing feature is turquoise blue ear lobes.
Blues are an even shade of blue-grey and Buffs a golden buff colour.
Other colours are black and white. Despite their smallness Silkies are classified as large fowl.