When do vultures leave Idaho?

Most Turkey Vultures have left Idaho by late September, 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 Idaho?

The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in the second week of September, on about 12% of Idaho checklists.

Turkey Vulture · Cathartes aura

When Do Vultures Arrive in Idaho?

Photo: Andrew Murray, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Turkey Vultures reach Idaho in the second week of March, are common by late March, peak in the second week of September (12% of checklists), and most are gone by late September. They are the only regular vultures in Idaho.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 8-14the second week of March

Common byMar 22-31late March

PeakSep 8-14the second week of September

Most gone bySep 22-30late September

Best: the second week of September. First arrivals the second week of March; most are gone by late September. Peak: on about 12% of Idaho checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febnot usually seen
Marcommon
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octcommon
Novnot usually seen
Decnot usually seen

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

Vultures in Idaho, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Turkey Vulture	Mar 8-14	Mar 22-31	Sep 8-14	Sep 22-30	12%

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 Idaho 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 Idaho

Best counties for Turkey Vulture

Share of checklists at the peak

Lincoln CountyBest early September · 11 checklists that week, 218 in all42%
Butte CountyBest early September · 50 checklists that week, 1,276 in all38%
Cassia CountyBest early September · 185 checklists that week, 9,223 in all33%
Gooding CountyBest mid April · 129 checklists that week, 3,207 in all32%
Lewis CountyBest mid August · 12 checklists that week, 603 in all30%
Caribou CountyBest early May · 25 checklists that week, 608 in all29%

Common questions

When do vultures arrive in Idaho?: Turkey Vultures reach Idaho in the second week of March, are common by late March, peak in the second week of September (12% of checklists), and most are gone by late September. They are the only regular vultures in Idaho.
When do vultures leave Idaho?: Most Turkey Vultures have left Idaho by late September, 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 Idaho?: The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in the second week of September, on about 12% of Idaho checklists.