Very good
Yellow or Black Birch is very good firewood, high heat value, slow burn. White or Gray Birch is average- better than some, not as good as some.
Yes, birch is in fact a hardwood. Birch comes from the tree called the birch tree. This tree is usually found in Canada and the US.
Basically any sort of wood can make a good material for firewood, be it logs or branches. However, some species of wood are better than other, such as tamarack or birch, which produce more heat when burned.
Minimal - excellent firewood. Season the wood (cut, stack, let dry) for least creosote. Note, however, that this is for hard (yellow) Birch. White or paper birch has virtually no creosote either, but it burns like Kleenex - low heat value.
Pretty much an average wood. Not the best, not the worst. Will tend to burn quickly when compared to harwoods like oak, ash, or hickory. If you have it, you can use it, but there are better woods. However, in some areas, the good stuff is hard to find.
I had a female landscaping contractor tell me that burning ficus is a no-no because the fumes are toxic. She and he crew were removing several large ficus trees and I asked her if I could take some of the logs and she said sure, but don't burn it.
When you dry firewood so that it is seasoned and really good to burn.
Black Oak is great firewood. It's nearly as good as White Oak, which (along with hickory) tops the list for firewood BTU output here in the Northeast.
Kintalin and firewood
A grasshopper on your birch tree is neither good or bad but it is harmless.
Kintalin and firewood