Red Maple (Acer rubrum) is a key deciduous species in mixed wood forests, thriving wherever Sugar Maple cannot dominate. It is not terribly fussy about soil and drainage and does well even in poorly-drained, shallow, or very sandy soils. Moderately shade-tolerant, it will grow almost anywhere except under dense shade. It commonly associates with, and competes with, the Yellow Birch. The red maple is also important for timber as it is fast growing.

The Red Maple is one of the first trees to flower in the spring, generally several weeks before the leaves appear. The flowers are small, with slender stalks, pink to red. This species is one of the early harbingers of autumn, as it turns color well in advance of other eastern deciduous trees, especially when it is located in wet sites. The fiery colors of fall are typically a brilliant red.

Red Maple leaves, twigs, bark, and fruits provide a food source for numerous mammals, birds, and insects. However, Red Maple leaves are extremely toxic to horses and cattle. The species is not preferred by deer as a browse source, so in areas with heavy deer pressure, this species is over-abundant in forest regeneration. The Red Maple is a larval host for the Rosy Maple Moth. Red Squirrels use the cavities of older trees as nesting habitat. A number of birds build nests in Red Maples, including American Redstarts, Black-backed Woodpeckers, and Downy Woodpeckers.

From https://wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-mixed-wood-forest.html