How can I identify Maples in CT in winter?

[Sugar Bear]

I have a couple of maples with the rough bark as shown in the original post. I believe they are Norway maples and yes they have opposing twigs.
Ken

The easiest way for me to determine a Norwegian Maple around here is by the bark, the size of the leaf and the length of time they retain their green leaves into the fall.

They stand out very, very well and easily to me from other trees, all maples included, at any time of year.

1) Leaf is at least two times the surface area of a sugar maple. And smooth on the edges of the coves like the sugar maple and not serrated on the edges like the Red/soft maples.

2) Mature Norwegians have a very limited amount of deep and wide fissuring to their bark as compared to any of the other "MATURE" maples. Another words I find it very difficult to find a piece of bark on the trunk of mature Norewegian that I can break off with my fingers. Its integrity remains solid throughout its life. No Scaling of bark.

3) Norwegians will keep their large green leaves well into the fall and well after Halloween in these parts, after which at some point in November they turn a dull yellow ( never Red or Orange ) color and drop off. It is not uncommon at this time of year to have all other trees drop their leaves and the Norwegians to still have a full green leaf canopy.

I have observed hundreds of Norwegians in these parts over the years but never any, in any part of Vermont.

It would surprise me if their characteristics were substantially different up there but like anything it is possible.

https://www.birdsoutsidemywindow.org...s%20are%20bare.