Fauna
Fish · GBIF taxon 2400214

Silver Perch

Bairdiella chrysoura

Also known as American Silver Perch, Silver Croaker, Goldtail Croaker

Silver perch are schooling estuarine drums that gather in vast numbers over shallow seagrass beds, tidal channels, and muddy bays along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. During warm spring and summer evenings, spawning males produce resonant drumming sounds by rapidly vibrating specialized sonic muscles against their gas bladders. These prolific forerunners of inshore food webs feed heavily during dusk and nighttime hours, converting tiny invertebrates into forage for top coastal predators.

SchoolingEstuarineCoastal
Silver Perch reference
Licensed reference(c) Matthew, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
—observations
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Mysid Shrimp
  • Amphipods
  • Polychaete Worms
Predators
  • Spotted Seatrout
  • Red Drum
  • Brown Pelican
ThreatsEstuarine pollution, coastal runoff, and bycatch in commercial shrimp trawling
HabitatsShallow estuaries, salt marshes, seagrass flats, and coastal sounds
Life span4–6 years
Classification
  1. OrderPerciformes
  2. FamilySciaenidae
  3. GenusBairdiella
  4. SpeciesBairdiella chrysoura
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
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Handling: Gently hold behind the dorsal fin to avoid minor pricks from sharp spines.
  • Observation: Listen for continuous low drumming choruses near docks around dusk.
Related species
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