Hi, I have this tree in our woods, and wondering if anyone can id it? Right now it has yellow leaves, and it is a tall tree, at least 30 feet? In the first photo, it is the tree in the foreground. Thanks! And if you know a good tree i.d. app, would like your thoughts on this as well. Thank you!

A wild guess from the leaf margin... Carpinus? Hornbeam?

It does resemble Hornbeam (Carpinus); there may be more than one species found in New York. Here are our database listings for a couple of possibilities with lots of photos for comparison:
American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana)
European Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)

Moved to Plant ID forum

Fagus grandifolia?

We also have Hornbeam in our woods, with that distinctive "musclewood" look, and I'm pretty sure these are not hornbeam, as the bark/surface doesn't look the same as hornbeam. The bark/surface also doesn't look like the smooth bark of fagus, at least that I'm familiar with. I think I'll go back and get a better photo (closeup) of the leaf and bark, and maybe that will help. Thank you all for weighing in!

perhaps closer photos of this part, and bud will help other to identify that, since it was years and years ago since I see any Fagus or Carpinus.
I trim your pic, seems the leaves are doubly serrated


from "A key to discerning American beech, Hop Hornbeam (Ostraya), Hornbeam
(Carpinus) and Birch. P.M. Eckel, 2013. Guide and illustrations."
Most carpinus I ever saw has double serrated leaves edge

Most Fagus I ever saw has single serrated leaves edge


Bark and trunk can be very variable within one species, let alone within genus, so I will not exclude possibilities just with one characteristic, also if you found fruits or floral part that will be very helpful, in most cases more helpful compares to trunk, bark or leaves

This is extremely helpful, thank you so much for your time and effort, I will go back to the trees and hopefully leaves are still on and I can check for fruit!

The slight indentation at the petiole attachment, serrated margins and the horizontal lenticels on the bark look like black birch, Betula lenta.

The bark looks Birchy too.

River birch ?

I am thinking Betula lenta, too. Scrape the bark on a twig and see if it smells minty. or you can chew on a twig, too.

Meandmyroses said: River birch ?

River birch ...Betula nigra has fabulous flaking bark...even when young..see pics below.
So can be eliminated

I think the Betula lenta is a strong possibility (and I agree that this doesn't have the typical peeling bark of River Birch, Betula nigra). Tomorrow I will try to see if a twig smells or tastes minty, and get some better leaf photos....may need a ladder!....and see if there are any lingering fruits. Am comparing photos of what I have to listing at GoBotany (Native Plant Trust). Betula lenta is definitely native to NY. Grateful to all of you for your thoughts.

All the sign right now looks very consistent with Betulla especially B lenta, which I never encounter. It is a nice post that I am get excited to learn. Thanks for posting Sally, and all members for a great discussion, and do please update if you get there again Sally, whether this fall or even next spring.

Yep you got it Sally, well done.

Great news! I scratched a thin twiggy part of a branch as Rick suggested and it smelled totally like mint! I'm really excited about the i.d., and knowing that we have this tree and learning something about it. Thanks to all of you, with a special nod to Rick and Kelly for helping me zero in on Betula lenta!

Sally, thanks for the acorn.

You bet!