A large hornbill of lowland and foothill forest. Body dark, with rufous thighs, chest, and neck, a whitish tail, a red casque, a long red bill, and a black face bordered behind with yellow. Females have a smaller casque, a paler eye, and no eye-ring. Southern birds have a yellow-tipped bill. Similar to the Writhed Hornbill, but Rufous lacks the black tip to the tail and has a rufous rather than black or pale head. Voice includes loud, downslurred nasal honking notes.