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Chinook Salmon

Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

Fish · family Salmonidae · order Salmoniformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
5 states[3]
Longest recorded life
9 years[4]

The Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) is a fish in the salmon family, also called King Salmon[5][6]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) worldwide, and it is native to Alaska, California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington[2][3].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Chinook Salmon a global rank of G5 (Secure) and a United States rank of N4 (Apparently Secure)[2][7]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[8]. In USFWS ECOS data, checked on 2026-10-30, it is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. Some local groups have done worse than the species as a whole, and NatureServe notes that at least 50 stocks have been extirpated, which means wiped out[9].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[7] N4 (Apparently Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[8] Least concern

Where Chinook Salmon lives

NatureServe lists the Chinook Salmon as native in Alaska, California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington[3]. It is listed as introduced, meaning not native, in Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, New York, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Wisconsin[10]. NatureServe ranks it as extirpated or possibly extirpated in Nevada[11].

Alaska: native, state rank S4AKMaine: introduced, state rank SNAMEWisconsin: introduced, state rank SNAWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: native, state rank S3WAIdaho: native, state rank SNRIDMontana: introduced, state rank SNAMTNorth Dakota: introduced, state rank SNANDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: introduced, state rank SNAILMichigan: introduced, state rank SNAMINew York: introduced, state rank SNANYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: native, state rank S4ORNevada: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: introduced, state rank SNASDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: introduced, state rank SNAINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: introduced, state rank SNAPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: native, state rank SNRCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[12].
Show state ranks (16 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlaskaS4Apparently Secure
CaliforniaSNRNot Ranked
IdahoSNRNot Ranked
IllinoisSNANot Applicable
IndianaSNANot Applicable
MaineSNANot Applicable
MichiganSNANot Applicable
MontanaSNANot Applicable
NevadaSXPresumed Extirpated
New YorkSNANot Applicable
North DakotaSNANot Applicable
OregonS4Apparently Secure
PennsylvaniaSNANot Applicable
South DakotaSNANot Applicable
WashingtonS3Vulnerable
WisconsinSNANot Applicable

Habitat

NatureServe records many kinds of water for this fish, including big rivers, medium rivers, creeks, pools, riffles, bays, river mouths, deep water and near shore areas[13]. Adults often spend 2 to 4 years of their lives in the ocean, and up to 6 years in some cases[14]. NatureServe describes two basic behavior forms, called stream-type and ocean-type[14]. Stream-type fish are typical of northern populations and of high elevation headwater streams in southern populations[14].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[13]

Size, diet and lifespan

Young fish in fresh water feed on insects, while in salt water they eat crustaceans and other bottom invertebrates[15]. Adults eat mostly fishes[15]. The typical length recorded by NatureServe is 80 cm (31 in)[16]. Spawning usually happens in fall, when fish are 2 to 7 years old, and most are 3 to 5[17]. The young hatch from eggs after roughly 2 to 3 months[17]. The longest recorded lifespan in the wild is 9 years[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[16] 80 cm (31 in)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[4] 9 years (wild)
Female maturity[18] 1,460 days (about 4.0 years)
Food habits[19] Piscivore, Invertivore
Migration[20] local migrant, long-distance migrant

When to look for it

Chinook Salmon are anadromous, which means they live in the sea and swim up rivers to spawn[21]. A trip upstream can cover up to several hundred km, back to the stream where the fish was born[21]. Different races differ in when adults migrate and spawn, and most spawn in fall[21][17]. GBIF observation records in the United States peak in May, June and November, which shows when people look and report, not how many fish there are[22].

January: 5,308 recordsJanFebruary: 3,123 recordsFebMarch: 2,991 recordsMarApril: 3,889 recordsAprMay: 56,358 recordsMayJune: 24,095 recordsJunJuly: 4,656 recordsJulAugust: 4,525 recordsAugSeptember: 5,986 recordsSepOctober: 15,480 recordsOctNovember: 23,780 recordsNovDecember: 7,627 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[22].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January5,308
February3,123
March2,991
April3,889
May56,358
June24,095
July4,656
August4,525
September5,986
October15,480
November23,780
December7,627

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Chinook Salmon as present in 31 park units[23]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 7 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Michigan[24]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Chinook Salmon endangered?
It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data checked on 2026-10-30[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) globally[2].
Where does the Chinook Salmon live?
It is native to Alaska, California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington[3]. It is also listed as introduced in several other states, including Michigan and New York[10].
What does the Chinook Salmon eat?
Young fish feed on insects in fresh water and on crustaceans in salt water[15]. Adults eat mostly fishes[15].
How big is a Chinook Salmon?
The typical length recorded by NatureServe is 80 cm (31 in)[16].
How long does a Chinook Salmon live?
The longest recorded lifespan in the wild is 9 years, and this is a record, not a typical lifespan[4].

Facts and sources

  1. Chinook Salmon is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Chinook Salmon: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Chinook Salmon as native in 5 US states and territories: Alaska, California, Idaho, Oregon, Washington. NatureServe Explorer
  4. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 9 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  5. Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) is a fish in the family Salmonidae, order Salmoniformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. Other English names listed by NatureServe for Chinook Salmon: King Salmon, Saumon chinook. NatureServe Explorer
  7. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N4 (Apparently Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  8. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  9. NatureServe notes on trend for Chinook Salmon. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe lists Chinook Salmon as introduced (not native) in: Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, New York, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Wisconsin. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe ranks Chinook Salmon as extirpated or possibly extirpated (SX or SH) in: Nevada. NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe state ranks for Chinook Salmon (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  13. Habitat types NatureServe records for Chinook Salmon: Big river, Medium river, Creek, Moderate gradient, Low gradient, Riffle, Pool, Deep water, Bay/sound, River mouth/tidal river, Pelagic, Near shore. NatureServe Explorer
  14. NatureServe notes on habitat for Chinook Salmon. NatureServe Explorer
  15. NatureServe notes on food for Chinook Salmon. NatureServe Explorer
  16. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 80 cm (31 in). NatureServe Explorer
  17. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Chinook Salmon. NatureServe Explorer
  18. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 1,460 days (about 4.0 years). AnAge
  19. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Piscivore, Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  20. NatureServe migration category for Chinook Salmon: local migrant, long-distance migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  21. NatureServe notes on migration for Chinook Salmon. NatureServe Explorer
  22. GBIF observation records of Chinook Salmon in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  23. NPSpecies park lists recording Chinook Salmon as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  24. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Chinook Salmon: California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Michigan. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.