The ostrich is the largest of all birds and is unique by its unmatched appearance. It has a long and bare neck, small head, a powerful body and long, sturdy legs. The feathers are black with white tips on adult males. Females and young males are color grey. Of all birds, ostriches are the only ones with two claws. Although too heavy to fly, it is capable of high-speed running and also of sustaining the intense run for a considerable amount of time.

Adult ostriches lack a syrinx, the vocal organ of birds, and consequently they do not emit noises. Occasionally, however, they make a hissing sound.

During oestrus the male will court the female by doing a very showy dance.

Ostriches are seminomadic and cover long distances in search of food.

The extended belief that an ostrich will hide its head under the ground in the presence of danger is false. What it may do is to lower the head to ground level to look like a bush as an attempt to go unperceived.