What tree species is this?

Southern Maine. Not my pics, but a few people are guessing all over the place. Some say beech, some red oak, but it looks like birch to me, maybe black birch ?

 

The end grains definitely says oak of some kind. In the red oak family I believe but not positive on that part.

 

And do y'all think that's the same tree with the end grain pic vs the trunk shot?

 

Oak… large growth rings, thick sapwood ring and smooth bark point to pin oak. Presence of ferns and hemlock suggest a wet site, which matches up with pin oak natural habitat.

 

Based on the end cut I'd say red oak of some type, plus the way the sapwood is spalting. Typical of oak.

 

I will second this.

 

100% red oak.

 

Looks like red oak to me, too.

 

The end grain really does look like oak.

 

Is the lichen what is throwing a curve ball? Without that, it's obviously a youngish oak branch...

 

That and the bark, but it's been dead a while, so that isn't helping