It is found in central Tanzania and was discovered by Robert Glen and Sue Stolberger in Ruaha National Park[1] All five red-billed hornbills were formerly considered conspecific.

They have curved, bright red bills that end in a small dot of dark orange.

Like most species of hornbills, they support medium-sized circles of black skin around their eyes, both in females and males.

They have greyish-white necks and bellies and their wings, like all red billed hornbills, have large and small spots of white surrounded by black feathers.

They are usually found resting or nesting in trees in forests or savannahs where their food is plentiful.