WhenToBird

Turkey Vulture · Cathartes aura

When Do Vultures Arrive in Iowa?

Adult Turkey Vulture
Photo: Andrew Murray, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Turkey Vultures reach Iowa in the second week of March, are common by mid March, peak in mid April (39% of checklists), and most are gone by mid October. They are the only regular vultures in Iowa.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 8-14the second week of March
Common byMar 15-21mid March
PeakApr 15-21mid April
Most gone byOct 15-21mid October

Best: mid April. First arrivals the second week of March; most are gone by mid October. Peak: on about 39% of Iowa checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marcommon
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novrare
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Vultures in Iowa, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Turkey VultureMar 8-14Mar 15-21Apr 15-21Oct 15-2139%
0%20%40%60%Turkey VultureJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • 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 Iowa 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 Iowa

Best counties for Turkey Vulture

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Montgomery CountyBest the second week of September · 22 checklists that week, 213 in all87%
  2. Clarke CountyBest late April · 22 checklists that week, 459 in all80%
  3. Van Buren CountyBest mid September · 22 checklists that week, 1,213 in all80%
  4. Cass CountyBest mid May · 14 checklists that week, 449 in all76%
  5. Jones CountyBest the second week of April · 41 checklists that week, 541 in all73%
  6. Des Moines CountyBest mid June · 20 checklists that week, 2,251 in all70%

Common questions

When do vultures arrive in Iowa?
Turkey Vultures reach Iowa in the second week of March, are common by mid March, peak in mid April (39% of checklists), and most are gone by mid October. They are the only regular vultures in Iowa.
When do vultures leave Iowa?
Most Turkey Vultures have left Iowa by mid October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early November.
When is the best time to see vultures in Iowa?
The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in mid April, on about 39% of Iowa checklists.