It is a black and white hornbill with a huge yellow-white casque. Plumage is black except for a small white patch under the eye, white lower belly, thighs, and undertail coverts, white edges to flight feathers and white outer tail feathers.The females that are incubating are normally sealed into tree hole nests with mud, leaving only a small gap through which food can be passed by the male. When the young are hatched the female breaks her way out but reseals the nest entrance once again until the young are ready to leave the nest.