WhenToBird

2 vulture species in Kentucky

When Do Vultures Arrive in Kentucky?

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 Kentucky. The Turkey Vulture is in Kentucky all year. It turns up on about 42% of checklists at its peak (early April) and on 14% in its quietest week (the second week of January).

When to look

PresentAll year
Peak weekApr 1-7early April
Quietest weekJan 8-14the second week of January

Best: early April. Here all year. Peak: on about 42% of Kentucky checklists.

  1. Januncommon
  2. Febcommon
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Deccommon

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

Vultures in Kentucky, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Turkey Vultureall year–Apr 1-7–42%
Black Vultureall year–Aug 15-21–18%
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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky

Best counties for Turkey Vulture

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Breckinridge CountyBest late October · 11 checklists that week, 454 in all89%
  2. Garrard CountyBest mid March · 25 checklists that week, 1,578 in all84%
  3. Gallatin CountyBest the second week of July · 11 checklists that week, 470 in all78%
  4. Woodford CountyBest late March · 32 checklists that week, 1,453 in all76%
  5. Mercer CountyBest the second week of June · 35 checklists that week, 1,919 in all75%
  6. Russell CountyBest early April · 21 checklists that week, 1,208 in all73%

Common questions

When do vultures arrive in Kentucky?
The Turkey Vulture is in Kentucky all year. It turns up on about 42% of checklists at its peak (early April) and on 14% in its quietest week (the second week of January).
When do vultures leave Kentucky?
The Turkey Vulture does not leave Kentucky: it is reported all year, from 14% of checklists in the second week of January to 42% in early April.
When is the best time to see vultures in Kentucky?
The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in early April, on about 42% of Kentucky checklists.
Which vultures are in Kentucky?
Turkey Vulture and Black Vulture are reported regularly; the Turkey Vulture is the most common.