Females and young birds are black with white tails and throats, adult males have golden brown head feathers (male pictured). Females make their nest in a hollow standing tree, and then build a wall to close all but the smallest of openings. The male brings food to the brooding female and youngsters, passing it through the tiny hole. The female will remain sealed in and completely dependent on the male for food until the youngsters fledge.

The  hornbill’s beak, which can reach up to 10 inches in length, is topped with a large, hollow structure called a casque, this is decorative and amplifies its calls.

Hornbills are seriously affected by habitat destruction in particular the removal of large trees used for nesting.