WhenToBird

Turkey Vulture · Cathartes aura

When Do Vultures Arrive in California?

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

The Turkey Vulture is in California all year. It turns up on about 29% of checklists at its peak (late April) and on 23% in its quietest week (the second week of December). They are the only regular vultures in California.

When to look

PresentAll year
Peak weekApr 22-30late April
Quietest weekDec 8-14the second week of December

Best: late April. Here all year. Peak: on about 29% of California checklists.

  1. Janpeak season
  2. Febpeak season
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Decpeak season

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

Vultures in California, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Turkey Vultureall year–Apr 22-30–29%
0%10%20%30%40%Turkey VultureJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Turkey 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 California 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 California

Best counties for Turkey Vulture

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Glenn CountyBest the second week of March · 51 checklists that week, 5,189 in all73%
  2. Tehama CountyBest early April · 373 checklists that week, 15,658 in all67%
  3. Amador CountyBest the second week of March · 92 checklists that week, 4,733 in all65%
  4. Napa CountyBest early April · 368 checklists that week, 18,976 in all60%
  5. Sonoma CountyBest late March · 3253 checklists that week, 113,105 in all58%
  6. Lake CountyBest the second week of March · 265 checklists that week, 12,989 in all58%

Common questions

When do vultures arrive in California?
The Turkey Vulture is in California all year. It turns up on about 29% of checklists at its peak (late April) and on 23% in its quietest week (the second week of December). They are the only regular vultures in California.
When do vultures leave California?
The Turkey Vulture does not leave California: it is reported all year, from 23% of checklists in the second week of December to 29% in late April.
When is the best time to see vultures in California?
The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in late April, on about 29% of California checklists.