Their color is basically silvery with a dusky back. In comparison with similar species, the head, eyes, and mouth of the common shiner seem noticeably large. Widely distributed in New York, this fish is present in all drainages and in most habitats, but is less common in lakes.
Common shiners spawn in spring.
They hybridize regularly with other species of minnow that spawn at the same time over the nest. The common shiner feeds at or just below the water surface primarily on insects. It takes a fly readily and is often caught by beginning fly fishermen. Distribution of the common shiner in NY state. Dark dots represent where actual samples of common shiners were taken.