Female is entirely black with a buffy band through the center of the tail and darker blue facial skin.

Samar Hornbill's voice is a short, medium-pitched honk, reminiscent of a squeaky toy, often given in rapid series.

[5] Its diet is presumed to be similar to other hornbills namely fruit, seeds, insects and small mammals and reptiles.

The female seals itself within the tree cavity and the male is in charge of gathering food for its mate and chicks.

Cooperative breeding, wherein immature birds from previous seasons help out in feeding the female and chick has not been observed with this species so far.

However, Mindanao and Basilan had undergone extensive lowland deforestation on all islands in its range is the main threat.

Most remaining lowland forest that is not afforded protection leaving it vulnerable to both legal and Illegal logging, conversion into farmlands through Slash-and-burn and mining.

This tarictic species complex is widely kept in captivity, but due to the taxonomic reorganization it is unknown if these birds are of pure descent.