WhenToBird

Turkey Vulture · Cathartes aura

When Do Vultures Arrive in Colorado?

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

Turkey Vultures reach Colorado in mid March, are common by early April, peak in mid May (16% of checklists), and most are gone by early October. They are the only regular vultures in Colorado.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 15-21mid March
Common byApr 1-7early April
PeakMay 15-21mid May
Most gone byOct 1-7early October

Best: mid May. First arrivals mid March; most are gone by early October. Peak: on about 16% of Colorado checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Maruncommon
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Vultures in Colorado, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Turkey VultureMar 15-21Apr 1-7May 15-21Oct 1-716%
0%5%10%15%20%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 Colorado 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 Colorado

Best counties for Turkey Vulture

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Baca CountyBest early May · 371 checklists that week, 3,209 in all51%
  2. Montezuma CountyBest late August · 409 checklists that week, 15,992 in all45%
  3. Las Animas CountyBest mid April · 61 checklists that week, 3,491 in all45%
  4. Bent CountyBest the second week of September · 95 checklists that week, 5,275 in all41%
  5. La Plata CountyBest early September · 523 checklists that week, 21,744 in all38%
  6. Costilla CountyBest mid August · 39 checklists that week, 1,323 in all36%

Common questions

When do vultures arrive in Colorado?
Turkey Vultures reach Colorado in mid March, are common by early April, peak in mid May (16% of checklists), and most are gone by early October. They are the only regular vultures in Colorado.
When do vultures leave Colorado?
Most Turkey Vultures have left Colorado by early October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of October.
When is the best time to see vultures in Colorado?
The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in mid May, on about 16% of Colorado checklists.