WhenToBird

Turkey Vulture · Cathartes aura

When Do Vultures Arrive in Kansas?

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

Turkey Vultures reach Kansas in the second week of March, are common by mid March, peak in mid April (41% of checklists), and most are gone by mid October. They are the only regular vultures in Kansas.

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 41% of Kansas checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marcommon
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julcommon
  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 Kansas, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Turkey VultureMar 8-14Mar 15-21Apr 15-21Oct 15-2141%
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 Kansas 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 Kansas

Best counties for Turkey Vulture

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Comanche CountyBest late September · 16 checklists that week, 769 in all83%
  2. Morris CountyBest late September · 10 checklists that week, 556 in all80%
  3. Osage CountyBest the second week of September · 39 checklists that week, 3,723 in all74%
  4. Linn CountyBest late April · 73 checklists that week, 2,601 in all73%
  5. Elk CountyBest late May · 17 checklists that week, 411 in all73%
  6. Scott CountyBest mid April · 76 checklists that week, 1,780 in all73%

Common questions

When do vultures arrive in Kansas?
Turkey Vultures reach Kansas in the second week of March, are common by mid March, peak in mid April (41% of checklists), and most are gone by mid October. They are the only regular vultures in Kansas.
When do vultures leave Kansas?
Most Turkey Vultures have left Kansas by mid October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late October.
When is the best time to see vultures in Kansas?
The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in mid April, on about 41% of Kansas checklists.