This very large crested Woody Woodpecker-looking bird was extremely scarce in New England during the 50s and 60s, but they have become more common in recent years as the farmlands return to woodlands. Their numbers have always been stable in the South, I believe.
I often see them hanging around dead trees where beavers have flooded woods. The loud kuk kuk kuk call announces their presence, and the large rectangular holes they chip in trees, looking for bugs, lets you know that they are around.
More about the wonderful Pileated here at CLO. Image borrowed from the excellent CLO website.
I have rarely seen a tree with as many Pileated holes as the one below, from this photographer's website. Interesting to see the old, healed Pileated holes in the Hemlock immediately behind.