Tony Wu / Marsh tit (Poecile palustris hensoni) feeding on an icicle formed from the sap of a painted maple tree (Acer pictum) in winter. Hokkaido, Japan.

Tony Wu / Long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus) feeding on an icicle formed from the sap of a painted maple tree (Acer pictum) in winter. Hokkaido, Japan.

Tony Wu / Long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus) feeding on an icicle formed from the sap of a painted maple tree (Acer pictum) in winter. Hokkaido, Japan.

Marie Read / Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoenicus) male singing from snow-covered red maple (Acer rubrum) in flower, Ithaca, New York, USA. April 2020.

John Shaw / Hybrid Poplar tree plantation in autumn (Populs sp.). Boardman Tree Farm, near Irrigon, Oregon, USA. October.

Marie Read / Blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) holding an acorn in its bill whilst perched on tree stump, with autumn foliage, New York, USA, October.

Guy Edwardes / Aurora Borealis over Sycamore Gap, Hadrian's Wall, Northumberland, England. February 2014

Steve Downer / Timelapse of Sycamore tree (Acer pseudoplatanus) leaves developing, UK. March. Controlled conditions.

Jack Dykinga / Western sword fern (Polystichum munitum) and Big leaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) trees that are covered with moss, Hoh Temperate Rainforest, Olympic National Park, Washington, USA. June 2017.

Andres M. Dominguez / Great grey shrike (Lanius meridionalis) perched on a branch of Montpellier maple (Acer monspessulanum). Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park. southern Spain. December.

Paul Hobson / Weasel (Mustela nivalis) head and neck looking out of yellow autumn acer leaves, Sheffield, England, UK.

Nick Upton / Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) feeding on grass amongst Meadow buttercups (Ranunculus acris) near a pond in a large enclosure, Devon, England, UK, June. Captive.

Wild Wonders of Europe / Bartocha / Meadow buttercup (Ranunculus acris) and Poet's daffodil (Narcissus poeticus) on the Piano Grande, Monti Sibillini National Park, Italy, May.

Wild Wonders of Europe / Bartocha / Meadow buttercup (Ranunculus acris) and Poet's daffodil (Narcissus poeticus) on the Piano Grande, Monti Sibillini National Park, Italy, May, 2009.

Floris van Breugel / Late fall colors linger among the mossy trees (Acer macrophyllum) in the Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National Park. Washington, USA. November 2012

Floris van Breugel / Emerging spring leaves adorn the mossy trees - Vine Maple (Acer circinatum) and Alder (Alnus rubra) in Mt Baker - Snoqualmie National Forest. Washington. April 2013

Floris van Breugel / Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) leaves floating in a small pond in late autumn in Seattle's Washington Park Arboretum. Washington USA

Pascal Tordeux / Lone Maple (Acer) in a field against cumulo-nimbus and mammatus clouds. Picardy, France, May.

Rolf Nussbaumer / Orange-crowned Warbler (Vermivora celata), adult on autumn leaves of Bigtooth Maple (Acer grandidentatum), Hill Country, Central Texas, USA, November.

Rolf Nussbaumer / Jumping Spider (Salticidae) perched on Bigtooth Maple leaf (Acer grandidentatum). Lost Maples State Park, Hill Country, Central Texas, USA, November.

Marie Read / Red Maple (Acer rubrum) leaves covered with early snow in autumn. Ithaca, New York, USA, October.

Marie Read / Red Maple (Acer rubrum) leaves covered with early snow in autumn. Ithaca, New York, USA, October.

Colin Varndell / Close up of Field maple buds (Acer campestre) Dorset, England, UK February

Stephen Dalton / Maple (Acer sp) leaves in autumn

Merryn Thomas / Maple leaves (Acer sp), UK. October 2009.

Laurie Campbell / Norway Maple (Acer platanoides) fallen leaves in autumn, Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, Stirlingshire, Scotland, October

Jack Dykinga / Fallen leaves of Boxelder {Acer Negundo} and Cottonwood {Populus fremontii) floating on pool in autumn with reflections of canyon walls, Lower Calf Creek Falls, Grand Staircase - Escalante National Mo...

Jack Dykinga / Fallen leaves of Boxelder {Acer Negundo} and Cottonwood {Populus fremontii) floating on pool in autumn, Lower Calf Creek Falls, Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument, Utah

Jack Dykinga / Fallen leaves of Boxelder {Acer Negundo} and Cottonwood {Populus fremontii) floating on pool in autumn, Lower Calf Creek Falls, Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument, Utah

Jack Dykinga / Lower Calf Creek Falls with Boxelders {Acer Negundo} and Cottonwoods {Populus fremontii) in the foreground, autumn colours, Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument, Utah

Jack Dykinga / Leaves of Arizona sycamore (Platanus Wrightii) and Bigtooth maple (Acer saccharum grandidentatum) floating on water, South Fork Cave Creek, Coronado National Forest, Chiricahua Wilderness, Chiricahua...

Jack Dykinga / Yucca (Yucca schottii) plants growing amongst Bigtooth maple trees (Acer saccharum grandidentatum) in autumn, Huachuca Mountains, Coronado National Forest, Arizona, USA

Jack Dykinga / Yucca (Yucca schottii) plants growing amongst Bigtooth maple trees (Acer grandidentatum) in autumn, Huachuca Mountains, Coronado National Forest, Arizona, USA

Guy Edwardes / Close up of decaying Sycamore leaf (Acer pseudoplatanus) Devon, England, November 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Biancarelli / Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) leaves over Gradinsko Lake, Upper lakes, Plitvice Lakes NP Croatia, October 2008

Philippe Clement / Silver / Creek / River maple (Acer saccharinum) leaf in autumn colours, native to eastern North America

Simon Colmer / Field maple tree (Acer campestre) twig and buds in winter, UK

Ross Hoddinott / Field maple leaf {Acer campestre} frozen in ice, Cornwall, UK. October

Jack Dykinga / Blue Hen Falls with Sugar Maples (Acer saccharum) and American Beech trees (Fagus grandifolia), Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio

Jack Dykinga / Autumnal Bigtooth Maples (Acer saccharum grandidentatum), West Fork Oak Creek, Coconino National Forest, Arizona

Jack Dykinga / Red and Yellow coloured Bigtooth Maples (Acer saccharum grandidentatum) in Autumn, West Fork Oak Creek, Coconino National Forest, Arizona

Jack Dykinga / Yucca {Yucca schottii} and Bigtooth maples {Acer grandidentatum} in autumn colours, Huachuca mountains, Coronado National Forest, Arizona, USA

Jack Dykinga / Quaking aspen {Populus tremuloides} and Bigtooth maple {Acer grandindentatum} trees in autumn colours, Mt Timpanogos, Uinta National Forest, Utah, USA

Jack Dykinga / Moss covered trunks of Sitka spruce {Picea sitchensis} and Big leaf maple {Acer macrophyllum}, also Sword ferns {Polystichum munitum} Hoh temperate rainforest, Olympic NP, Washington, USA

Jason Smalley / Sycamore leaves + flowers {Acer pseudoplatanus} with bluebells behind, England.

Martin Gabriel / Sycamore tree in blossom {Acer pseudoplatanus} Bavaria Germany

Geoff Scott-Simpson / Sycamore leaves breaking from bud {Acer pseudoplatanus} UK

Scott Leslie / Red Maple (Acer rubrum) trees and river, Mersey River, Medway Lakes Wilderness Area, Nova Scotia, Canada