WhenToBird

2 vulture species in Louisiana

When Do Vultures Arrive in Louisiana?

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 Louisiana. Turkey Vultures are in Louisiana all year, but most are here in winter: numbers build from early November, peak in late December (26% of checklists), and fall back by early April. In the quietest week (late July) they are still on about 9.1% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildNov 1-7early November
PeakDec 22-31late December
Fall back byApr 1-7early April
FewestJul 22-31late July

Best: late December. Here all year; numbers build from early November and fall back by early April. Peak: on about 26% of Louisiana checklists.

  1. Janpeak season
  2. Febpeak season
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Maycommon
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Decpeak season

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

Vultures in Louisiana, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Turkey VultureNov 1-7Nov 1-7Dec 22-31Apr 1-726%
Black Vultureall year–Mar 22-31–12%
0%10%20%30%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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana

Best counties for Turkey Vulture

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. La Salle ParishBest the second week of October · 19 checklists that week, 847 in all76%
  2. Jackson ParishBest late February · 12 checklists that week, 481 in all75%
  3. Madison ParishBest the second week of February · 13 checklists that week, 491 in all71%
  4. East Feliciana ParishBest the second week of January · 24 checklists that week, 1,037 in all70%
  5. Sabine ParishBest the second week of April · 11 checklists that week, 541 in all68%
  6. West Feliciana ParishBest early March · 41 checklists that week, 2,336 in all66%

Common questions

When do vultures arrive in Louisiana?
Turkey Vultures are in Louisiana all year, but most are here in winter: numbers build from early November, peak in late December (26% of checklists), and fall back by early April. In the quietest week (late July) they are still on about 9.1% of checklists.
When do vultures leave Louisiana?
Turkey Vultures never fully leave Louisiana: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by early April, but some are still reported in every week, about 9.1% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see vultures in Louisiana?
The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in late December, on about 26% of Louisiana checklists.
Which vultures are in Louisiana?
Turkey Vulture and Black Vulture are reported regularly; the Turkey Vulture is the most common.