WhenToBird

2 vulture species in Connecticut

When Do Vultures Arrive in Connecticut?

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 Connecticut. Turkey Vultures are in Connecticut all year, but most are here in fall: numbers build from the second week of September, peak in the second week of October (17% of checklists), and fall back by early November. In the quietest week (mid January) they are still on about 5.5% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildSep 8-14the second week of September
PeakOct 8-14the second week of October
Fall back byNov 1-7early November
FewestJan 15-21mid January

Best: the second week of October. Here all year; numbers build from the second week of September and fall back by early November. Peak: on about 17% of Connecticut checklists.

  1. Januncommon
  2. Febcommon
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novcommon
  12. Decuncommon

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

Vultures in Connecticut, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Turkey VultureSep 8-14Sep 8-14Oct 8-14Nov 1-717%
Black VultureAug 15-21Sep 1-7May 1-7Jun 22-303.4%
0%5%10%15%20%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 Connecticut 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 Connecticut

Best counties for Turkey Vulture

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Windham CountyBest the second week of October · 260 checklists that week, 19,034 in all27%
  2. Litchfield CountyBest mid April · 1790 checklists that week, 69,766 in all25%
  3. New London CountyBest early May · 1919 checklists that week, 65,205 in all24%
  4. Middlesex CountyBest the second week of October · 666 checklists that week, 39,919 in all22%
  5. Tolland CountyBest the second week of April · 958 checklists that week, 39,004 in all21%
  6. New Haven CountyBest early May · 5748 checklists that week, 139,721 in all19%

Common questions

When do vultures arrive in Connecticut?
Turkey Vultures are in Connecticut all year, but most are here in fall: numbers build from the second week of September, peak in the second week of October (17% of checklists), and fall back by early November. In the quietest week (mid January) they are still on about 5.5% of checklists.
When do vultures leave Connecticut?
Turkey Vultures never fully leave Connecticut: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by early November, but some are still reported in every week, about 5.5% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see vultures in Connecticut?
The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in the second week of October, on about 17% of Connecticut checklists.
Which vultures are in Connecticut?
Turkey Vulture and Black Vulture are reported regularly; the Turkey Vulture is the most common.