WhenToBird

2 vulture species in Florida

When Do Vultures Arrive in Florida?

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 Florida. Turkey Vultures are in Florida all year, but most are here in winter: numbers build from late October, peak in mid January (47% of checklists), and fall back by late March. In the quietest week (the second week of July) they are still on about 14% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildOct 22-31late October
PeakJan 15-21mid January
Fall back byMar 22-31late March
FewestJul 8-14the second week of July

Best: mid January. Here all year; numbers build from late October and fall back by late March. Peak: on about 47% of Florida checklists.

  1. Janpeak season
  2. Febpeak season
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Mayuncommon
  6. Jununcommon
  7. Juluncommon
  8. Auguncommon
  9. Sepuncommon
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Decpeak season

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

Vultures in Florida, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Turkey VultureOct 22-31Oct 22-31Jan 15-21Mar 22-3147%
Black Vultureall year–Mar 8-14–24%
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 Florida 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 Florida

Best counties for Turkey Vulture

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Lafayette CountyBest late November · 24 checklists that week, 1,203 in all79%
  2. Hardee CountyBest late November · 36 checklists that week, 1,078 in all74%
  3. Union CountyBest the second week of March · 12 checklists that week, 661 in all74%
  4. Glades CountyBest early December · 49 checklists that week, 6,182 in all73%
  5. Okeechobee CountyBest mid January · 182 checklists that week, 5,380 in all72%
  6. Calhoun CountyBest the second week of March · 18 checklists that week, 570 in all71%

Common questions

When do vultures arrive in Florida?
Turkey Vultures are in Florida all year, but most are here in winter: numbers build from late October, peak in mid January (47% of checklists), and fall back by late March. In the quietest week (the second week of July) they are still on about 14% of checklists.
When do vultures leave Florida?
Turkey Vultures never fully leave Florida: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by late March, but some are still reported in every week, about 14% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see vultures in Florida?
The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in mid January, on about 47% of Florida checklists.
Which vultures are in Florida?
Turkey Vulture and Black Vulture are reported regularly; the Turkey Vulture is the most common.