It's a member of the Prunus genus (which includes cherries and plums).

I thought that too, possibly--but couldn't quite get all the pieces (leaf color, bark, growth habit) to fit a species. I'll keep trying--thanks for the quick reply.

Three rather common ones: Prunus serotina, Prunus pensylvanica, and Prunus virginiana.

You might also check the link below - it contains natural range maps for Prunus species.

Here is a link that might be useful: Distribution maps

esh--
Thanks for narrowing it down! I missed two keys identifiers earlier this year, being too busy to get to the semi-abandoned side yard: the flowering period and the fruiting (thus my comment that they don't fruit).

Your link above and some quick reading reminded me that I did indeed see "light red fruit" on an older tree of identical habit back in Aug. I'm thinking Prunus pensylvanica over the other 2. I'll be watching closely next spring and late summer at the flowers and fruit. These trees are just sprouting all over on me--I'll keep some for screening and because I like them--nice color and nice branch effect (to me, anyway) in winter.

Many thanks!! PJP

Thats not buckthorne is it? Are there thornes, didn't se any. The bark looks similar to something I had. I dug a few up from my sisters woodsy area and planted in my yard. Found out 4 yrs later that it is a very invasive plant and berries are poisen to birds that sometimes eat them. It was a fairly nice looking plant but I removed them, was that wood hard. berries got all over and have been pulling sprouts from my yard for years. In Mn there are groups/volunteers that go into areas to rid areas of this horrible plant...I feel guilty I encouraged this plant. Help sister to get as many in her area out but this stuff is everywhere.