When do vultures leave Maine?

Most Turkey Vultures have left Maine by early November, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late November.

When is the best time to see vultures in Maine?

The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in the second week of April, on about 13% of Maine checklists.

Turkey Vulture · Cathartes aura

When Do Vultures Arrive in Maine?

Photo: Andrew Murray, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Turkey Vultures reach Maine in mid February, are common by the second week of March, peak in the second week of April (13% of checklists), and most are gone by early November. They are the only regular vultures in Maine.

When to look

First arrivalsFeb 15-21mid February

Common byMar 8-14the second week of March

PeakApr 8-14the second week of April

Most gone byNov 1-7early November

Best: the second week of April. First arrivals mid February; most are gone by early November. Peak: on about 13% of Maine checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febrare
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Juncommon
Julcommon
Augcommon
Sepcommon
Octcommon
Novuncommon
Decrare

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

Vultures in Maine, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Turkey Vulture	Feb 15-21	Mar 8-14	Apr 8-14	Nov 1-7	13%

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 Maine 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 Maine

Best counties for Turkey Vulture

Share of checklists at the peak

Androscoggin CountyBest late October · 430 checklists that week, 16,955 in all22%
Knox CountyBest the second week of April · 579 checklists that week, 34,453 in all17%
Cumberland CountyBest the second week of April · 4597 checklists that week, 169,501 in all15%
Piscataquis CountyBest early May · 133 checklists that week, 14,837 in all15%
Oxford CountyBest mid April · 323 checklists that week, 15,115 in all14%
Hancock CountyBest mid April · 2192 checklists that week, 118,358 in all14%

Common questions

When do vultures arrive in Maine?: Turkey Vultures reach Maine in mid February, are common by the second week of March, peak in the second week of April (13% of checklists), and most are gone by early November. They are the only regular vultures in Maine.
When do vultures leave Maine?: Most Turkey Vultures have left Maine by early November, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late November.
When is the best time to see vultures in Maine?: The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in the second week of April, on about 13% of Maine checklists.