Always fun to do this. Biggest ive ever seen...25" DBH. Growing in my woods. Ill show your bark pics at stump level and reveal the answer 48 hours from now. I think the answer is going to surprise all. I would have never guessed it. I will give no clues.
Its Winter...the leaves arent out yet! Didnt check for leaves and with a leaf its easy to ID. Gotta have a little fun with you guys.
Completely forgot about posting the results. It is black birch. Good other guesses. Rarely do i see one where the bark splits like this. Kinda wanna call it shagbark birch. Very healthy tree too. No wounds or visible weak spots at the stump. Given the chance i would NOT cut it down. Very majestic tree for its species.
Pretty common for the bigger Black Birches to have the bark flake off. I think it’s actually a disease they typically get. They seem to top off here around 24” as well
