The sexes are very similar, differing primarily in the colour of the ocular ring (pinkish-white in the male, blue in the female).

It is unique among them as other tarictics show a great deal of sexual dimorphism in which males have white heads and breasts while females are almost uniformly black.

All hornbills are monogamous and mate for life.They are cavity nesters and rely on large dipterocarp trees for breeding.

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

The male stores food in a gular pouch and regurgitates it to feed its mate and chicks.

By 1988, extensive deforestation on Mindoro had reduced forest cover to a mere 120 km2, of which only a small proportion is below this species's upper altitudinal limit.

Kaingin or Slash-and-burn cultivation, occasional selective logging and rattan collection threaten the forest fragments that still support the species.

Conservation actions proposed include more surveys in areas where they have been reported to better understand the population, create formal protection in other sites where they are found in Malpalon, Puerto Galera and Manamlay Lake.

Evans, Tom D. Brooks, Thomas M. Asane, Desiderio C. Timmins, Robert J. Toledo, Angela.