Hey guys, as I'm new to the field (purchased a home with a wood stove last year), I am horrible at identifying tree species (both standing trees as well as split wood). Does anyone have a good resource on educating oneself in wood identification?
Looking to Educate on Tree Species
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(broken link removed to https://www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/forestry/pdf/health/fieldguidefinal.pdf)
turn_n_burn
Burning Hunk
wood-database.com is great for me. It's designed for lumber ID, but grain and end grain pics are helpful, and it gives a numerical relative weight and density figures. It will take time to learn, but you will pick up a lot of experience just getting out and handling wood. My advice, don't try to use bark as an identifier, it varies too much. I've learned a lot just by handling splits and feeling how heavy they are compared to other woods I know. The best resource, though, is this forum. Get a good camera and post a pic of something you can't ID, and you will find an answer somehow!
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Montanalocal
Minister of Fire
This tree distribution data base is good to help rule things either in or out.
(broken link removed to http://esp.cr.usgs.gov/data/little/)
(broken link removed to http://esp.cr.usgs.gov/data/little/)
David Sibley wrote a new guide to trees. I haven't seen it but his bird guide is very good so I bet the tree guide is too. You have to learn trees one by one. Learn the ones in your yard, in your neighborhood, and before long you'll recognize most of the trees you see. I don't think there is a reliable way to identify trees by bark along. bark is too similar and too variable. There are some exceptions, like Shagbark Hickory, but too many tree have similar bark to make bark a stand-alone ID tool.
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