The Redear is a deep-bodied sunfish, with a relatively small mouth.
Color ranges from dark olive green above to almost white on the belly.
The sides are usually yellow to green. The spinous dorsal fin, which is anterior to the soft dorsal fin, is normally equipped with 10 spines, although 9 or 11 spines are sometimes observed, and it is broadly connected to the soft dorsal fin. The anal fin has three spines. The opercle flap is never greatly elongated as in some other similar species such as the redbreast sunfish Lepomis auritus or the Longear sunfish Lepomis megalotis. However, insect larvae and cladocerans may also be found in their diet.