The central tail feathers are tapered to a blunt tip, and the outer feathers have graduated lengths to meet and enhance the central feathers. The beak is thick and blunt in the mannikin tradition, but the color is variable and may range from dark brown to pinkish-horn color. Many Societies have a canary type crest. Some are double crested and the writers have seen one specimen with several rosette crests on the sides of the neck and throat. No two Societies are exactly alike in their mottled pattern.
Coloring varies from pure white to dark chocolate-brown.
The range of color is limited to dark brown, cinnamon, and a deft blend between the two. In most cases, there is a mottled mixture of white, but there are some selfs both in cinnamon and dark brown. Selfs contain no white in their feathers. The shading of cinnamon in some individuals may be diluted slightly. Pure white Societies are far less attractive than White Zebra Finches because they lack the bright red-orange beaks, feet, and legs.