Ongoing research on the application of artificial insemination (AI) in niche farming enterprises such as ostrich farming requires a thorough knowledge of sperm morphology. Although the morphologic characteristics of normal ostrich sperm have been documented, little information is available on the incidence and morphology of defective sperm in this species. Normal ejaculates were collected from six ostriches (Struthio camelus) using the dummy method and fixed in 2.5% buffered glutaraldehyde. Smears were prepared from the suspensions, stained with Wrights’ stain and evaluated using a 100x oil immersion objective and phase contrast illumination. The incidence of sperm defects was 16% of which tail defects (expressed as a percentage of total sperm defects) formed the most common anomaly (68%). Of these defects various forms of bending were the most prominent, ranging from gentle to acute bends of the principal piece, Dag-like coiling at the head base, sharp reflexes of the midpiece and coiling of the endpiece. Multiple tails were rarely seen. The incidence of head defects was low in comparison (15%), with macrocephalic sperm being most frequently observed. Bent, microcephalic, acephalic and round sperm heads were also noted but in low numbers. Cytoplasmic droplets were commonly observed, either associated with the sperm (15%) or as free-lying droplets. A small percentage (2%) of sperm displayed multiple defects. The incidence of morphological normal sperm (84%) in the ostrich was similar to that reported in the emu, another commercially farmed ratite. However, the range of defects differed considerably between the two species with tail anomalies forming the major category in the ostrich (68%) and head defects the main grouping in the emu (57%). The reasons for this contrasting evidence are unclear but the influence of retained cytoplasmic material on tail bending in the ostrich may be a contributing factor.