The 5 Iconic Species of Pacific Salmon

The Pacific salmon is an iconic fish species that has immense ecological, cultural, and economic importance in the Pacific Northwest There are 5 main species of Pacific salmon that are native to this region – Chinook, Sockeye, Coho, Pink, and Chum salmon. Though they share some common traits, each species has unique characteristics and life histories

Overview of the 5 Pacific Salmon Species

Pacific salmon start their life cycle in freshwater streams and rivers where eggs are laid and hatch. The juveniles then migrate out to the ocean where they spend most of their adult life feeding and maturing. When it’s time to spawn they make an incredible journey back to their natal streams to lay eggs before dying. Here’s a quick overview of the 5 species

Chinook Salmon

• Also known as King, Spring, or Tyee salmon
• Largest of the Pacific salmon species reaching over 100 lbs
• Long ocean residence of up to 6 years
• Adults have black mouths and spots on back/tail
• Travel vast distances up to 3,000 km to spawn

Sockeye Salmon

• Also known as Red salmon
• Bright red spawning coloration
• Unique lifecycle where juveniles rear in lakes 1-3 years
• No spots; white mouth/gumline
• Important commercial species

Coho Salmon

• Also known as Silver salmon
• Powerful leapers making acrobatic falls/rapids jumps
• Small black spots on back/upper tail lobe
• Dark gray/black mouth with white gumline

Pink Salmon

• Also known as Humpies due to large humps on males
• Smallest Pacific salmon species
• Short 2 year lifecycle; spawn near mouths of streams
• Large oval spots on back/both tail lobes

Chum Salmon

• Also known as Dog salmon
• Calico banding color pattern when spawning
• Latest fall spawners on shallow, calm streams
• Adults grow elongated “kype” snout and teeth

Unique Physical Features

Though the 5 species have overlapping physical characteristics, there are some distinguishing features that can help identify them:

• Spots Chinook, Coho, Pink, and some Sockeye have spots on their back and tail Chum and most Sockeye don’t have any spots

• Tail spots: Only Coho have spots restricted to the upper tail lobe while Chinook have spots on both lobes.

• Mouth: Chinook and Chum have white gums/mouths while the other 3 have black gums/mouths.

• Size: Chinook are the largest, Pinks the smallest. Chum, Sockeye, and Coho are intermediate in size.

• Lifecycle: Pink and Chum have a fixed 2-4 year lifecycle while the others are more variable from 3-7 years.

• Color: Spawning colors range from pink (Pinks), red (Sockeye), maroon (Coho), to blackish (Chinook). Chum have unique calico bands.

Behavioral Traits and Habitat Use

In addition to physical differences, each salmon species has adapted distinct migration timing, homing ability, spawning habitat preferences, and feeding behaviors:

• Migration timing: Chinook are the earliest spring spawners followed by Sockeye, Pink, Chum, and lastly Coho in the fall.

• Homing ability: All species demonstrate incredible homing fidelity to return to natal spawning grounds after years roaming the ocean.

• Spawning habitat: Chinook use larger rivers while Pinks prefer smaller streams. Sockeye uniquely require lake-connected systems.

• Juvenile rearing: Sockeye and some Chinook rear longer in freshwater (1-3 years) compared to Pink and Chum which migrate to the ocean quickly after hatching.

• Feeding: Sockeye uniquely feed on zooplankton vs fish while the others are more piscivorous (feed on fish).

Ecological and Economic Roles

Pacific salmon play indispensible ecological roles in the regions they inhabit. As predators/prey, nutrient transporters between ocean and freshwater, and food for wildlife, their presence shapes the entire ecosystem.

They also have tremendous economic value supporting commercial fisheries, sport angling, subsistence harvests, and tourism. However, many populations are declining threatening these systems that depend on healthy abundant salmon runs.

Conservation Concerns

Though still relatively abundant, almost all Pacific salmon species and populations face concerning conservation threats from:

• Dams blocking access to spawning grounds
• Habitat loss/degradation
• Overfishing and bycatch
• Pollution and climate change impacts

Without dedicated monitoring and recovery efforts, the future of these iconic fish is uncertain. Sustaining healthy wild Pacific salmon runs requires protecting critical habitats, managing fisheries responsibly, and maintaining connectivity across their vast ranges.

The 5 species of Pacific Northwest salmon – Chinook, Sockeye, Coho, Pink, and Chum – represent one of the most incredible life histories and migrations in the animal kingdom. Understanding their uniqueness, interconnectedness, and vulnerabilities allows us to better conserve these ecological treasures into the future.

To easily remember the 5 types of salmon, use the “5 Finger Method”. Thumb is Chum, Index finger is Sockeye, Middle finger is King (or Chinook), Ring finger is Silver (or Coho), and Pinkie is Pink.

The “best” Pacific salmon depends on personal preferences, but many consider Chinook (King) salmon to be the highest quality due to its rich flavor and high fat content.