1. Salmon Species Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Salmon and Trout Enhancement Program
Fish Eggs To Fry Volunteer Guide
This PowerPoint presentation was created as supplemental tool to be used by Eggs to Fry teachers or volunteers in Oregon classrooms that participate in ODFW’s Fish Eggs to Fry Program.

2. Chinook Salmon Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Other Names:
King Salmon, Tyee Salmon
Identification:
- Silvery sides, gray back
- Maroon/brown when spawning
- Spots on back
- Spots on both tail lobes
- Black mouth and gums
- Adults weigh lbs
Life History:
- Spring/Summer and fall runs
- Fry in streams 3 mo – 1+ yrs
- Smolts in estuary less than yr
- Adults in ocean 2-5 yrs
- Spawn in large and small rivers
Adult
Fry
Smolt

3. Chinook Salmon Habitat and Range
Chinook salmon range from central California north to Alaska, the Arctic Ocean and Russian Far East.
These are the most sought after food salmon for their high quality of flesh.
In freshwater they prefer mainstem large and small rivers.
Map courtesy Ecotrust

4. Coho Salmon Scientific name: Oncorhynchus kisutch Other names:
Silver salmon
Identification:
- Silvery sides, green blue back
- Maroon color when spawning
- Small black spots on back
- Spots on upper tail fin only
- Black mouth with white gums
- Adults weigh 5 – 20 lbs
Life History:
- Late fall, early winter spawning run
- Fry in streams 1+ yrs
- Smolts in estuary a few days
- Adults in ocean 2 yrs
- Spawn in smaller streams and rivers
Adult
Fry
Smolt

5. Coho Salmon Habitat and Range
Coho salmon range from central California north to Alaska, and Russian Far East.
Coho are also known as silver salmon.
In freshwater they prefer smaller rivers and tributary streams. .
Map courtesy Ecotrust

6. Sockeye Salmon Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus nerka Other Names:
Red salmon, Blueback
Identification:
- dark, blue-black back, silver sides
- Bright red when spawning
- No spots on tail
- Adults weigh lbs
Life History:
- Fall spawning run
- Fry in streams 1 – 3 yrs
- Smolts in estuary a few days
- Adults in ocean 1-4 yrs
- Spawn in streams near lakes
Adult
Smolt

7. Sockeye Salmon Habitat and Range
Sockeye salmon range from central California north to Alaska, and Russian Far East.
The largest numbers of sockeye are in Alaska, British Columbia and the Russian Far East.
While in freshwater, sockeye salmon live in lakes.
Unlike all other salmon species, sockeye are filter feeders.
Map courtesy Ecotrust

8. Pink Salmon Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Other Names:
Humpback salmon, Humpy
Identification:
- Silvery body
- Large spots on back and tail - Dull gray when spawning
- Male has spawning hump
- Adults weight 3-10 lbs
Life History:
- Fall spawning run
- Fry in streams days to wks
- Smolts in estuary a few days
- Adults in ocean 1.5 yrs
- Spawn in lower river reaches
Adult
Fry
Smolts

9. Pink Salmon Habitat and Range
Pink salmon have an extensive range including Alaska, British Columbia, Arctic Ocean and the Russian Far East. In the past they also spawned in rivers along much the U.S. West Coast.
Found in rivers but spend very little time in freshwater.
Unlike all other salmon species, pink salmon return to fresh water every other year.
Map courtesy Ecotrust

10. Chum Salmon Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus keta Other Names:
Dog salmon, Calico Salmon
Identification:
- Yellow-silver body
- No spots on back and tail
- Green sides when spawning
- Red side bars when spawning
- Adults weight 8-12 lbs
Life History:
- Fall spawning run
- Fry in streams days to wks
- Smolts in estuary 2 weeks
- Adults in ocean yrs
- Spawn in lower river reaches
Adult
Fry
Smolts

11. Chum Salmon Habitat and Range
Like pink salmon, chum salmon also have an extensive range including parts of Oregon and Washington, Alaska, British Columbia, Arctic Ocean and the Russian Far East.
Chum and pink salmon often spawn in the same rivers, but spawn at different times to avoid interbreeding.
Spawn in rivers but spend very little time in freshwater.
Map courtesy Ecotrust

12. Steelhead Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus mykiss Other Names:
Steelhead trout
Identification:
- Silver body, greenish back
- Redish band on side
- Dark spots on back and tail
- Green sides when spawning
- Adults weight 5-30 lbs
Life History:
- Summer and fall spawning runs
- Fry in streams 1 – 3 yrs
- Smolts in estuary less than mo
- Adults in ocean yrs
- Spawn in streams and rivers
Adult
Fry
Smolt

13. Steelhead Range
Steelhead range from southern California up to southern Alaska and on the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East. Steelhead once ranged as far south as Mexico.
Compared to salmon, steelhead are relatively uncommon. They are a sea-run rainbow trout and not a salmon species.
When in freshwater, steelhead generally frequent tributary streams of larger rivers.
Map courtesy Ecotrust

14. Bucks and Hens
Telling the difference between male salmon (bucks) and females (hens) is generally easier when they are ready to spawn because their bodies begin to change in different ways.
Chinook, coho, chum and steelhead males will become more colorful than females, while pink and chum salmon develop humped backs.
Pink Salmon, buck (top) hen (bottom)
Males will often develop an extended lower jaw called a ‘kipe’ and will have long, sharp teeth.
Coho Salmon
Buck
Coho Salmon
Hen
Sockeye Salmon, buck (bottom) hen (top)

15. Identifying Salmon Fry
Parr marks and fins are the best way to identify salmon and steelhead fry.
Chinook salmon – White tip on dorsal fin; leading edge of anal fin white; anal fin straight
Coho salmon – Leading edge of anal fin white and black; anal fin curved
Sockeye salmon – Parr marks irregular
Pink salmon – No parr marks
Chum salmon - Parr marks smaller than the eye
Steelhead – Parr marks on back between head and dorsal fin; white tip on dorsal fin; jaw bone does not extend past eye
Photo: Lisa Thompson UC Davis
Coho salmon fry (top), Chinook Salmon fry (bottom)
It can be very difficult to tell difference in species as fry, parr and smolts. As bright adults, fresh from the ocean it can also be difficult to distinguish species unless you know exactly what you are looking for, run timing and geography.
Steelhead fry