The terms “bream” and “bluegill” are often used interchangeably, causing confusion about their relationship. This article clarifies the distinctions between them and provides characteristics for identification.
The Relationship Between Bream and Bluegill
The term “bream” is a broad, informal designation commonly used in North America to refer to various species within the sunfish family, Centrarchidae. This family encompasses a diverse group of freshwater ray-finned fish, including species often called sunfish, crappies, and black basses. Bluegill, scientifically known as Lepomis macrochirus, is a distinct species belonging to this larger sunfish family.
While all bluegill are sunfish, and often informally called “bream” (or “brim”) in the Southern United States, not all fish referred to as “bream” are bluegill. This informal naming reflects regional preferences, not precise scientific classification. The scientific name Lepomis macrochirus distinguishes bluegill from other sunfish species also called “bream.”
Identifying Bluegill
Their body is deep, laterally compressed, and has a roundish, disc-like shape. The fish displays five to nine dark vertical bars along its sides.
A distinguishing feature is the opercular flap, often called the “ear flap,” located on the posterior edge of the gill cover. In bluegill, this flap is solid black. Coloration varies, ranging from olive green to dark blue on the back and upper sides, fading into lighter, copper, orange, or yellow hues on the belly. Breeding males tend to exhibit more vibrant colors, including a bright orange or reddish breast and a blue-purple face and gill cover.
The bluegill’s pectoral fins are long and pointed, extending beyond the eye when bent forward. They have a relatively small mouth, with the upper jaw not extending past the front of the eye. The dorsal fin is single, composed of both spiny and soft-rayed portions that are broadly connected, and a prominent black spot is visible at the base of its posterior, soft-rayed section.
Other Sunfish Often Called Bream
Several other sunfish species are also commonly referred to as “bream” and can be distinguished from bluegill by their unique features.
The redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus), sometimes called “shellcracker,” shares a similar body shape but has a distinctive red or orange margin on its opercular flap, unlike the bluegill’s solid black flap. Redear sunfish exhibit a more gold and green coloration with fainter vertical bars compared to bluegill. They also possess specialized pharyngeal teeth in their throat, enabling them to crush the shells of snails and mussels, which is a key dietary difference from bluegill.
Green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) are another species confused with bluegill. They have a more elongated or football-like body shape and a noticeably larger mouth that extends further back on the head than a bluegill’s. Their opercular flap has a red or orange edging, and they display iridescent blue streaks on their cheeks and gill plates, which contrast with the bluegill’s solid blue or purple coloration in that area.
Pumpkinseed sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus) are recognized by their vibrant, speckled coloration, featuring orange, green, and yellow scales. A prominent red-orange spot on the posterior edge of their black opercular flap, with a white margin, clearly differentiates them from bluegill. Wavy blue lines radiating from their mouth across the cheek and gill plate are also characteristic of pumpkinseed, along with a smaller average size compared to bluegill.