The Piping Hornbill has a black head and wings with white underparts. The account distinguishes three subspecies with differences in the extent of white on the wings and tail. Some taxonomies treat Bycanistes fistulator as a subspecies of the Trumpeter Hornbill.
The head, wings, and tail are black, with white underparts. The amount of white on the wings and tail differs among subspecies. Adults have a ridged bill and casque; juveniles have a smaller bill and no casque.
It lives in mangroves and humid forests, feeds on fruit and also takes insects, and is usually seen in family groups or small flocks.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.