WhenToBird

2 vulture species in Delaware

When Do Vultures Arrive in Delaware?

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 Delaware. The Turkey Vulture is in Delaware all year. It turns up on about 53% of checklists at its peak (the second week of April) and on 29% in its quietest week (late July).

When to look

PresentAll year
Peak weekApr 8-14the second week of April
Quietest weekJul 22-31late July

Best: the second week of April. Here all year. Peak: on about 53% of Delaware checklists.

  1. Jancommon
  2. Febpeak season
  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. Deccommon

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

Vultures in Delaware, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Turkey Vultureall year–Apr 8-14–53%
Black Vultureall year–Oct 22-31–16%
0%20%40%60%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 Delaware 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 Delaware

Best counties for Turkey Vulture

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. New Castle CountyBest the second week of April · 1835 checklists that week, 72,140 in all54%
  2. Sussex CountyBest the second week of April · 1875 checklists that week, 91,027 in all53%
  3. Kent CountyBest the second week of April · 746 checklists that week, 36,693 in all49%

Common questions

When do vultures arrive in Delaware?
The Turkey Vulture is in Delaware all year. It turns up on about 53% of checklists at its peak (the second week of April) and on 29% in its quietest week (late July).
When do vultures leave Delaware?
The Turkey Vulture does not leave Delaware: it is reported all year, from 29% of checklists in late July to 53% in the second week of April.
When is the best time to see vultures in Delaware?
The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in the second week of April, on about 53% of Delaware checklists.
Which vultures are in Delaware?
Turkey Vulture and Black Vulture are reported regularly; the Turkey Vulture is the most common.