WhenToBird

2 vulture species in District of Columbia

When Do Vultures Arrive in District of Columbia?

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 District of Columbia. Turkey Vultures are in District of Columbia all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from late February, peak in late March (20% of checklists), and fall back by late April. In the quietest week (late August) they are still on about 7.0% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildFeb 22-28late February
PeakMar 22-31late March
Fall back byApr 22-30late April
FewestAug 22-31late August

Best: late March. Here all year; numbers build from late February and fall back by late April. Peak: on about 20% of District of Columbia checklists.

  1. Jancommon
  2. Febcommon
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maycommon
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Deccommon

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

Vultures in District of Columbia, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Turkey VultureFeb 22-28Feb 22-28Mar 22-31Apr 22-3020%
Black VultureFeb 8-14Feb 8-14Mar 22-31Jun 15-2113%
0%10%20%30%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 District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia

Best counties for Turkey Vulture

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. District of Columbia CountyBest late March · 3895 checklists that week, 121,721 in all20%

Common questions

When do vultures arrive in District of Columbia?
Turkey Vultures are in District of Columbia all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from late February, peak in late March (20% of checklists), and fall back by late April. In the quietest week (late August) they are still on about 7.0% of checklists.
When do vultures leave District of Columbia?
Turkey Vultures never fully leave District of Columbia: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by late April, but some are still reported in every week, about 7.0% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see vultures in District of Columbia?
The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in late March, on about 20% of District of Columbia checklists.
Which vultures are in District of Columbia?
Turkey Vulture and Black Vulture are reported regularly; the Turkey Vulture is the most common.