WhenToBird

2 vulture species in Arkansas

When Do Vultures Arrive in Arkansas?

Adult Turkey Vulture
Photo: Andrew Murray, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Turkey Vultures and Black Vultures are the vultures you are most likely to see in Arkansas. The Turkey Vulture is in Arkansas all year. It turns up on about 38% of checklists at its peak (late March) and on 19% in its quietest week (the second week of June).

When to look

PresentAll year
Peak weekMar 22-31late March
Quietest weekJun 8-14the second week of June

Best: late March. Here all year. Peak: on about 38% of Arkansas checklists.

  1. Jancommon
  2. Febcommon
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Decpeak season

Darker months: more checklists report it. Outlined: peak month.

Vultures in Arkansas, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Turkey Vultureall year–Mar 22-31–38%
Black Vultureall year–Mar 22-31–12%
0%10%20%30%40%Turkey VultureBlack VultureJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Turkey Vulture
  • Black Vulture
Share of complete checklists reporting each species, by week (4 per month). Gaps: fewer than 10 checklists that week.

Frequency is the share of complete checklists in Arkansas that listed the bird, 2016–2025. It is not a head count, and it follows where and when people go birding. How to read it.

Where in Arkansas

Best counties for Turkey Vulture

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Izard CountyBest mid September · 10 checklists that week, 788 in all73%
  2. Logan CountyBest late September · 34 checklists that week, 1,122 in all72%
  3. Drew CountyBest mid October · 10 checklists that week, 720 in all71%
  4. Little River CountyBest the second week of October · 21 checklists that week, 510 in all70%
  5. Howard CountyBest mid February · 15 checklists that week, 238 in all70%
  6. Lafayette CountyBest the second week of January · 12 checklists that week, 352 in all70%

Common questions

When do vultures arrive in Arkansas?
The Turkey Vulture is in Arkansas all year. It turns up on about 38% of checklists at its peak (late March) and on 19% in its quietest week (the second week of June).
When do vultures leave Arkansas?
The Turkey Vulture does not leave Arkansas: it is reported all year, from 19% of checklists in the second week of June to 38% in late March.
When is the best time to see vultures in Arkansas?
The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in late March, on about 38% of Arkansas checklists.
Which vultures are in Arkansas?
Turkey Vulture and Black Vulture are reported regularly; the Turkey Vulture is the most common.