 It is distinguishable from other red-billed hornbills by the combination of yellow iris and pale orbital skin (pink to greyish), and the ample blackish plumage streaking from the ear coverts to the side of the neck.The throat is white, and the wing coverts clearly spotted.The call consists of an accelerating series notes, "kuk kuk kuk" ... which ends in a crescendo of double notes, "kuk-we kuk-we".