PS crossing with BG is very common.
See WiscFish BG - slides 37-40 for good hybrid PSxBG pics. Also has a listing of lepomis traits.
https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/fish-id/#fishMainCompare Similar Species
Lateral Scales
Bluegill
39-45
Sunfish, Green
44-51
Sunfish, Longear
34-38
Sunfish, Orangespotted
36-41
Pumpkinseed
38-43
Warmouth
36-40
Bass, Rock
39-43
Opercular Flap Color
Bluegill
Solid dark
Sunfish, Green
Dark with light margin
Sunfish, Longear
Dark with light margin
Sunfish, Orangespotted
Dark with light margin
Pumpkinseed
Dark with light spot at tip
Warmouth
Dark with light margin
Bass, Rock
Solid dark
Gill Rakers
Bluegill
13-16, moderately long
Sunfish, Green
11-14, long and thin
Sunfish, Longear
9-11, short and thick
Sunfish, Orangespotted
10-15, long and thin
Pumpkinseed
9-12, short and thick
Warmouth
9-12, moderately long
Bass, Rock
7-10, long and thin
Pectoral Fin
Bluegill
Long, pointed
Sunfish, Green
Moderately long, rounded
Sunfish, Longear
Short, rounded or blunt point
Sunfish, Orangespotted
Long, rounded or blunt point
Pumpkinseed
Long, pointed
Warmouth
Moderately long, rounded
Bass, Rock
Short, rounded
Pigment Pattern on Sides and Soft Dorsal Fin
Sunfish, Longear
Sides dark bluish-olive, with solid color or light irregular spots or blotches/mottling; fin solid or faint spots/mottling
Sunfish, Orangespotted
Sides blue or gray, with occasional irregular orange spots, faint diffuse vertical bars; fin solid or faint spots/mottling
Pumpkinseed
Sides olive or yellow-olive, with many irregular yellow-orange spots or blotches and sometimes faint vertical bars; fin solid or faint spots/mottling
Warmouth
Sides yellow-brown or olive with dark mottling, faint spots or faint bars; fin mottled and/or spotted
Bluegill
Sides dark or silver blue or bluish-olive, solid color or with dark vertical bars, sometimes fine irregular dark blue spots; fin solid, often with large diffuse spot at base
Sunfish, Green
Sides yellow or blue-green, with solid color, dark mottling, faint light spots or faint dark bars; fin dusky, spotted or with dark blotch at base
Bass, Rock
Sides brown solid color or with dark mottling or many indistinct spots; fin mottled and/or spotted
Other Characteristics
Bluegill
Opercular flap slightly elongated in large adults
Sunfish, Green
Rarely a few teeth on tongue
Sunfish, Longear
Opercular flap greatly elongated in adults
Sunfish, Orangespotted
Opercular flap often elongated in adults; large sensory pores above lip; 8-9 anal fin rays
Pumpkinseed
None
Warmouth
Well-developed supramaxillary bone; teeth on tongue
Bass, Rock
5-7 anal spines; 9-11 anal rays
Similarity Index
Bluegill
N/A
Sunfish, Green
Small juveniles very similar, adults moderately similar
Sunfish, Longear
Small juveniles very similar, adults moderately similar
Sunfish, Orangespotted
Small juveniles very similar, adults moderately similar
Pumpkinseed
Small juveniles very similar, adults moderately similar
Warmouth
Small juveniles very similar, adults moderately similar
Bass, Rock
Moderately similar
TOPICS
Fish and fisheries
Trap nets
Ghost nets
Lake Michigan fisheries forum
Fish ID
Fish glossary
Learn more
Learn more about fish and fisheries in our publications section.
For further information about fish and fisheries, contact Fisheries Outreach Specialist Titus Seilheimer.
Email
ABOUT