The yellow-billed hornbill frequents open savannahs with thorny bushes and trees, as well as woodlands. It feeds mainly on the ground where it hops to peck most of its food, such as insects or fruits. The yellow-billed hornbill climbs in the trees to consume their small round edible fruits. Like most hornbills, it swallows all its food at once but it then spits out the indigestible parts like seeds and insect shells.