Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis)
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Yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) buds are oval and pointed, and there are two shades of brown on each of their 3 – 5 bud scales. The buds and twigs of yellow birch taste like wintergreen. In the early morning and late afternoon, look for ruffed grouse filling their crops (“budding”) in yellow birch trees, as these buds are one of their favorite foods. The thin bark of a mature yellow birch is a very distinctive yellow-bronze color (the bark of saplings is a shiny red-brown color), and curls when it separates from the trunk.This entry was posted on January 28, 2012 by Mary Holland. It was filed under Bark, Deciduous Trees, January, Tree Buds, Tree Identification, Trees and Shrubs, Woody Plants and was tagged with Bark, Betula alleghaniensis, Tree Buds, Tree Identification, Trees, Woody Plants, Yellow Birch.
Naturally Curious with Mary Holland 
I love when we get a good bit of mature yellow birch in our firewood; the oil in its bark makes it the best firestarter, and it smells like incense.
January 28, 2012 at 8:50 pm