I've studied trees for much of my life, from my early days hiking and backpacking in New England to years as an ecologist and field biologist. One lesson has stood out above all the others: one of the easiest ways to identify a tree is to stop looking at its leaves.
Every species develops its own distinctive silhouette. Once you begin noticing those shapes, you'll often recognize a tree from hundreds of feet away, even in winter when there isn't a single leaf on the branches.
What I Look For
- Overall crown shape
- The angle and spacing of branches
- Whether the crown is dense or open
- Single trunk or multiple stems
- The shape of the top of the tree
- The way lower branches are retained or shed
Practice Makes It Easy
When I'm hiking or driving, I'm constantly trying to identify trees from a distance before I get close enough to examine the bark or leaves. At first you'll only recognize a few species, but after enough practice you'll find yourself identifying dozens almost automatically.
Winter is actually one of the best seasons to learn trees because silhouettes become the primary clue. Even here in Florida I still rely on overall form when looking across marshes, rivers, and lakes.
My Advice
Don't try to learn hundreds of species at once. Learn ten common trees exceptionally well, then build from there. Before long you'll discover that every forest has its own personality, and every tree tells its own story.