The entire head, throat, breast and rump is crimson. Back and wings are brown with a suffusion of red. Underparts are blackish with black tail, lores and eyestripe and a profusion of white dots on the breast, flanks and rump. Eclipse plumage is mainly yellowish brown. Hens are similar to the male's eclipse plumage with tail feathers becoming more black as the breeding season approaches.
Many hens also develop a yellow-orange tint to the breast and upper belly.
This species does best in large planted aviaries that are draught free and dry. Red Strawberrys should never be housed with Orange Breasts as they will crossbreed. They do best in a mixed collection of small seedeaters but in small aviaries they are susceptible to overgrown toenails and feather plucking. Egg binding can also be a problem especially with very young or old hens. A simple diet of dry seed, grit, water and a little sprouted seed or grass seedheads should be provided in the non breeding season.