Breeding colors

Salmon, trout, and charr develop breeding coloration also called nuptial coloration prior to spawning. This occurs along with changes in body shape especially to the jaws and teeth. Although species patterns are distinctive there can be considerable fish to fish differences in color within and among locations.

Sockeye male nuptial coloration
Nuptial coloration suggests that this mature male Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) is ready to spawn.
25Mile Creek Actinopterygii Alaska Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Copper River Delta Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological breeding colors chordate courtship diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater living lotic male migratory nuptial coloration organism red semelparity semelparous stream under fresh water underwater
Coastal Cutthroat Trout
Searun Coastal Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii) males in nuptial coloration.
Actinopterygii Alaska Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coastal Cutthroat Trout Cordova Eccles Creek Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus clarkii Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii Pacific trout Phylum Chordata Prince William Sound Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biological biosphere breeding colors chordate courtship diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ iteroparity iteroparous living lotic male migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration organism searun stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild
Humpy
Humpy, a popular alternate common name for Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) comes from the pronounced dorsal hump of mature males like this one in nuptial coloration.
Actinopterygii Alaska Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Humpback Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Montana Creek Neopterygii Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Pink Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Susitna River Tributary Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere chordate diadromous fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic male migratory naturalworld nature near Talkeetna organism semelparity semelparous stream summer under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Male Coho Salmon face-off
Breeding color variation of male Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) facing off with a lateral display.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Autumn Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Dolly Varden Dolly Varden Char Dolly Varden Charr Dolly Varden Charr southern form Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Salvelinus malma Salvelinus malma lordi Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere breeding colors chordate courtship diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ lateral display living lotic male aggression male behavior migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration organism semelparity semelparous stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Coho Salmon male nuptial coloration
Coho Salmon (Oncorhyncus kisutch) male nuptial coloration underwater in an Alaska stream during autumn.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Autumn Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere breeding colors chordate courtship diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic male migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration organism semelparity semelparous stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon spawning pair
Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) spawning pair turning in opposite directiosns reveal differences between male and female head profiles and nuptial coloration.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere breeding colors chordate courtship diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration organism semelparity semelparous stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Female Chinook Salmon
A Female Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) observes a Chum Salmon (O. keta)
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chinook Salmon Chordata Chum Salmon Class Actinopterygii Dog Salmon Ecology Fish Infraclass Teleostei King Salmon Neopterygii Oncorhynchus keta Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere breeding colors chordate courtship covering redd diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration organism photographed under water semelparity semelparous spawning behavior stream under fresh water underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Chum Salmon spawning pair
Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) spawning pair
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Chum Salmon Class Actinopterygii Dog Salmon Ecology Fish Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus keta Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere breeding colors chordate courtship covering redd diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration organism photographed under water semelparity semelparous spawning behavior stream under fresh water underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Male Coho Salmon
Male Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch).
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Autumn Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere breeding colors chordate courtship diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration organism semelparity semelparous stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Nuptial male Coho
Nuptial coloration of a hook-nosed male Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch).
Actinopterygii Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Silver Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate biological biosphere breeding colors chordate courtship in situ living naturalworld nuptial coloration organism red underwater
Dolly Varden male
A Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) male's lower jaw develops into a kype with maturation.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Autumn Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Dolly Varden Dolly Varden Char Dolly Varden Charr Dolly Varden Charr southern form Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Salvelinus malma Salvelinus malma lordi Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biological biosphere breeding colors chordate courtship diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ iteroparity iteroparous living lotic migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration organism stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild char wild charr wild salmon wild trout
Coho Salmon male
A mostly red colored mature Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) male. A near-mature female Sockeye Salmon (O. nerka) is visible behind his dorsal fin.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Autumn Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere breeding colors chordate courtship diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration organism semelparity semelparous stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Partially spawned out Sockeye Salmon male
Partially spawned-out Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) male with the lighter colored caudal peduncle variant in full nuptial coloration.
Actinopterygii Alaska Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere chordate courtship diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration organism semelparity semelparous stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild
Nuptial coloration
A female Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) in full nuptial coloration kicks up stream sedimant while excavating her redd.
Actinopterygii Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii summer Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate courtship female female behavior in situ living naturalworld nature nuptial coloration organism redd excavation underwater underwaterphoto wild
Male Pink Salmon in dappled light
Dappled light illuminates this mature male Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) in the low-tide shallows of Eccles Creek, near Cordova, Alaska.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Cordova Eccles Creek Ecology Humpback Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Pink Salmon Prince William Sound Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere breeding colors chordate courtship diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration organism semelparity semelparous stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild
Sockeye Salmon spawning pair
Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) spawning pair depicting nuptial coloration in glacier fed Power Creek near Cordova, Alaska.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Power Creek Red Salmon Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Snell's window Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate alpha male anadromous anadromy biological biosphere breeding colors chordate courtship diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater glacial sediment in situ living lotic male behavior migratory naturalworld nature near Cordova nuptial coloration organism semelparity semelparous spawning behavior spawning pair stream turbid under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild
Searun Coastal Cutthroat Trout female
Searun Coastal Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii) female showing breeding coloration (nutial coloration) in a small tributary of Prince William Sound, Alaska. Aspect Ratio = 2:3.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coastal Cutthroat Trout Cordova Eccles Creek Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus clarkii Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii Pacific trout Phylum Chordata Prince William Sound Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Searun Coastal Cutthroat Trout South Central Alaska Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biological biosphere breeding colors chordate courtship diadromous diadromy female fresh water freshwater in situ iteroparity iteroparous living lotic migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration organism searun stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon wild trout
Searun Coastal Cutthroat Trout pair in a small stream
Searun Coastal Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii) pair (male in foreground) showing breeding colors in a small tributary of Prince William Sound, Alaska. Aspect Ratio = 2:3.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coastal Cutthroat Trout Cordova Eccles Creek Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus clarkii Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii Pacific trout Phylum Chordata Prince William Sound Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Searun Coastal Cutthroat Trout South Central Alaska Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biological biosphere breeding colors chordate courtship diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ iteroparity iteroparous living lotic migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration organism searun stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon wild trout
Dolly Varden and Chinook Salmon female
Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) shadowing a Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) female. Aspect Ratio = 16:9.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chinook Salmon Chordata Class Actinopterygii Dolly Varden Dolly Varden Char Dolly Varden Charr Dolly Varden Charr southern form Ecology Infraclass Teleostei King Salmon Neopterygii Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Salvelinus malma Salvelinus malma lordi Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere breeding colors chordate courtship diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ iteroparity iteroparous living lotic migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration organism photographed under water semelparity semelparous stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild char wild charr wild salmon wild trout
Male Chum Salmon
Mature male Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) in breeding coloration.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Chum Salmon Class Actinopterygii Dog Salmon Ecology Fish Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus keta Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere breeding colors chordate courtship covering redd diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration organism photographed under water semelparity semelparous spawning behavior stream under fresh water underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Red dorsal fin dash
This mature Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) female sports an unusual red dash on her dorsal fin. Underwater view in an Alaskan stream during the summer.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere breeding colors chordate courtship diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration organism semelparity semelparous stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Spawning colors of Coho Salmon
Spawning colors of Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) reflected in a shallow stream. Aspect ratio = 1:2.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Autumn Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromous fish anadromy biological biosphere breeding colors chordate courtship diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration organism salmonography.com semelparity semelparous stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Female Chinook Salmon with a precotial male parr
Female Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) with a precotial male parr in spawning area of the Yakima River, Washington. Aspect Ratio = 4:5.
Actinopterygii Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chinook Salmon Chordata Class Actinopterygii Easton Ecology Infraclass Teleostei King Salmon Neopterygii Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate Washington State Yakima River anadromous anadromy biological biosphere chordate courtship diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic male behavior migratory naturalworld nature organism photographed under water precocial parr precocious parr salmonography.com semelparity semelparous stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Breeding color variation
Male Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) breeding color variation.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere breeding colors chordate courtship diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration organism semelparity semelparous stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Pink Salmon male
A male Pink Salmon in Eccles Creek near Cordova, Alaska. Aspect Ratio = 2:3.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Cordova Eccles Creek Ecology Humpback Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Pink Salmon Prince William Sound Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere breeding colors chordate courtship diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration organism salmonography.com semelparity semelparous stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Pink Salmon spawning pair
Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) female probes her redd as a male guards. Aspect Ratio = 1:2.
Alaska PacificSalmon probing SalmonBehavior Actinopterygii Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Humpback Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Pink Salmon Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere breeding colors chordate courtship diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration organism semelparity semelparous spawning behavior stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Two male Dolly Varden
Two male Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) males staging in a tributary of Eyak Lake, Alaska. Aspect Ratio = 1:2.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Autumn Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Dolly Varden Dolly Varden Char Dolly Varden Charr Dolly Varden Charr southern form Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Phylum Chordata Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Salvelinus malma Salvelinus malma lordi Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biological biosphere breeding colors chordate courtship diadromous fresh water freshwater in situ iteroparity iteroparous living lotic migratory naturalworld nuptial coloration organism salmonography.com staging stream under fresh water underwater wild wild char wild charr wild salmon wild trout