This photo is featured in 3 plant ID/comparison guides:
These plants can overlap in habitat, and are confused because both have serrated leaf margins, and both can have reddish petioles. They are easily distinguished by leaf texture and flowering date and appearance. Red maple has a variable leaf shape that sometimes looks like that of mountain maple.
Norway maple and red maple are easy to distinguish at any time of year. They are mainly confused due to being common and often occurring in the same habibat, especially around humans.
Red maple has a highly variable leaf shape, and some can look similar to sugar maple, but they are easily distinguished by serrations and the color of the leaf underside. In winter, buds are easily distinguished. Samaras are also distinctive.
