E-Fauna BC: Electronic Atlas of the Wildlife of British Columbia

A dark blue or black "ear" on an extension of the gill cover called the opercular flap; a prominent dark blotch at the base of the dorsal fin, close to the tail; typically olive-green backs, with a blue or purplish sheen along the sides; faint vertical bars may be present along the sides; breeding males may have more blue and orange coloration on their flanks (Ref. 44091).

The bluegill is another eastern North American species. It is a relatively new introduction into B.C. waters and it is too early to assess their impact on native species. So far, they are confined to the south Okanagan, and the only conservation concern is keeping them from spreading to other drainage systems. Still, except for competitive interactions with native planktivorous species, they probably are not a serious threat to our aquatic biodiversity.

North America: St. Lawrence - Great Lakes and Mississippi river basin; from Quebec to northern Mexico. Widely introduced. Trade restricted in Germany (Anl.3 BArtSchV). Several countries report adverse ecological impact after introduction.