Trout & Salmon
Pink Salmon
Oncorhynchus gorbuscha
BothSalmonidaeLeast Concern
About
Pink salmon are the smallest and most abundant of the Pacific salmon. During their spawning migration, males develop a pronounced hump on their back, hence the nickname "humpback salmon" or "humpies".
- Average size
- 20-25 inches, 3.5-5 lbs
- Colors
- Silver flanks, bluish-green back, white belly. During spawning, males develop olive-green to brownish-red coloration with dark blotches.
- Diet
- In the ocean, they feed on plankton, crustaceans, and small fish. In freshwater, adults do not feed and rely on stored energy reserves.
- Region
- Primarily Alaska and the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon), with some populations in California.