This species of hornbill inhabits the forests of East Africa, in the area stretching from Ethiopia to Zimbabwe. It lives in small family groups and feeds on fruit, insects, eggs and small vertebrates, such as lizards and small birds.

It is a monogamous species, which nests in holes in trees. The female lays 1 or 2 eggs and remains in the nest during incubation and while she raises the chicks, where she is fed by the male.

This species is common to a large part of its area of distribution.