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 Chordata Class Actinopterygii Copper River Delta Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy breeding colors chordate diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater lotic male migratory nuptial coloration red semelparity semelparous stream under fresh water underwater
Coastal Cutthroat Trout
Searun Coastal Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii) males in nuptial coloration.
Actinopterygii Alaska Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coastal Cutthroat Trout Cordova Eccles Creek Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus clarkii Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii Pacific trout Phylum Chordata Prince William Sound Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biosphere breeding colors chordate diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ iteroparity iteroparous lotic male migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration 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 Chordata Class Actinopterygii 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 biosphere chordate diadromous fresh water freshwater in situ lotic male migratory naturalworld nature near Talkeetna 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 Autumn Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Dolly Varden Dolly Varden Char Dolly Varden Charr Dolly Varden Charr southern form Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata 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 biosphere breeding colors chordate diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ lateral display lotic male aggression male behavior migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration 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 Autumn Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biosphere breeding colors chordate diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ lotic male migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration 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 Chordata Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biosphere breeding colors chordate diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ lotic migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration 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 Chinook Salmon Chordata Chum Salmon Class Actinopterygii Dog Salmon Fish Infraclass Teleostei King Salmon Neopterygii Oncorhynchus keta Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biosphere breeding colors chordate covering redd diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ lotic migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration 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 Chordata Chum Salmon Class Actinopterygii Dog Salmon Fish Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus keta Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biosphere breeding colors chordate covering redd diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ lotic migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration 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 Autumn Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biosphere breeding colors chordate diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ lotic migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration semelparity semelparous stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Dolly Varden male
A Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) male's lower jaw develops into a kype with maturation.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Autumn Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Dolly Varden Dolly Varden Char Dolly Varden Charr Dolly Varden Charr southern form Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Salvelinus malma Salvelinus malma lordi Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biosphere breeding colors chordate diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ iteroparity iteroparous lotic migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration 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.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Autumn Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biosphere breeding colors chordate diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ lotic migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration 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 Chordata Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biosphere chordate diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ lotic migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration 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 Chordata Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii summer Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate biosphere chordate female female behavior in situ naturalworld nature nuptial coloration 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 Chordata Class Actinopterygii Cordova Eccles Creek Humpback Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Pink Salmon Prince William Sound Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biosphere breeding colors chordate diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ lotic migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration 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 Chordata Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Power Creek Red Salmon 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 biosphere breeding colors chordate courtship diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater glacial sediment in situ lotic migratory naturalworld nature near Cordova nuptial coloration 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 Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coastal Cutthroat Trout Cordova Eccles Creek Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus clarkii Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii Pacific trout Phylum Chordata Prince William Sound Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Searun Coastal Cutthroat Trout South Central Alaska Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biosphere breeding colors chordate diadromous diadromy female fresh water freshwater in situ iteroparity iteroparous lotic migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration 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 Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coastal Cutthroat Trout Cordova Eccles Creek Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus clarkii Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii Pacific trout Phylum Chordata Prince William Sound Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Searun Coastal Cutthroat Trout South Central Alaska Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biosphere breeding colors chordate diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ iteroparity iteroparous lotic migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration 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 Chinook Salmon Chordata Class Actinopterygii Dolly Varden Dolly Varden Char Dolly Varden Charr Dolly Varden Charr southern form Infraclass Teleostei King Salmon Neopterygii Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Salvelinus malma Salvelinus malma lordi Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biosphere breeding colors chordate diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ iteroparity iteroparous lotic migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration 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 Chordata Chum Salmon Class Actinopterygii Dog Salmon Fish Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus keta Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biosphere breeding colors chordate covering redd diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ lotic migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration 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 Chordata Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biosphere breeding colors chordate diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ lotic migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration 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 Autumn Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromous fish anadromy biosphere breeding colors chordate diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ lotic migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration 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 Chinook Salmon Chordata Class Actinopterygii Easton Infraclass Teleostei King Salmon Neopterygii Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate Washington State Yakima River anadromous anadromy biosphere chordate diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ lotic male behavior migratory naturalworld nature photographed under water precocious parr precotial 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 Chordata Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biosphere breeding colors chordate diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ lotic migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration 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 Chordata Class Actinopterygii Cordova Eccles Creek Humpback Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Pink Salmon Prince William Sound Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biosphere breeding colors chordate diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ lotic migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration 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 Chordata Class Actinopterygii Humpback Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Pink Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biosphere breeding colors chordate diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ lotic migratory naturalworld nature nuptial coloration 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 Autumn Chordata Class Actinopterygii Dolly Varden Dolly Varden Char Dolly Varden Charr Dolly Varden Charr southern form Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Salvelinus malma Salvelinus malma lordi Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biosphere breeding colors chordate diadromous fresh water freshwater in situ iteroparity iteroparous lotic migratory naturalworld nuptial coloration salmonography.com staging stream under fresh water underwater wild wild char wild charr wild salmon wild trout