Fauna
Fish

Bluegill

Lepomis macrochirus

Also known as Bream

Bluegill is a deep-bodied sunfish with a small mouth, dark ear flap, and often a blue sheen along the lower cheek. Males fan circular nests in shallow colonies and guard eggs and young.

Freshwater SunfishColonial NesterShallow Water
Bluegill reference1 / 7
(c) Kristiina Hurme, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Kristiina Hurme · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAquatic insects, Zooplankton, Small crustaceans
Predators
  • Largemouth bass
  • Herons
  • Otters
ThreatsPollution, low oxygen, shoreline degradation, and invasive competitors
HabitatsLakes, ponds, reservoirs, wetlands, and slow rivers
Life spanCommonly 5 to 8 years; some exceed 10 years
Classification
  1. OrderPerciformes
  2. FamilyCentrarchidae
  3. GenusLepomis
  4. SpeciesLepomis macrochirus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Observe without wading through shallow nesting colonies.
Responsible observation
  • Nests: Look for clusters of pale circular depressions in clear shallows.
  • Markings: Check the dark ear flap behind a blue-green cheek.
Related species

Related species have not been added yet.

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