A huge, spectacular hornbill of lowland and foothill forest. All black body and white tail. Blue skin on the pouch below the bill and around the eye. Male is much larger with a rufous head and chest, whereas the female has a black head. A large, ivory-colored bill with a rippled casque on top. Presence often betrayed by loud wingbeats overhead. Forages in the canopy for fruit and sometimes, small animal prey. Unmistakable. The only hornbill in its range. Voice, far-carrying, gruff barks, or grunts “gew! gew! gew!”.