WhenToBird

2 vulture species in Maryland

When Do Vultures Arrive in Maryland?

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 Maryland. The Turkey Vulture is in Maryland all year. It turns up on about 41% of checklists at its peak (early April) and on 24% in its quietest week (mid July).

When to look

PresentAll year
Peak weekApr 1-7early April
Quietest weekJul 15-21mid July

Best: early April. Here all year. Peak: on about 41% of Maryland checklists.

  1. Jancommon
  2. Febpeak season
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Decpeak season

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

Vultures in Maryland, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Turkey Vultureall year–Apr 1-7–41%
Black Vultureall year–Oct 22-31–18%
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 Maryland 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 Maryland

Best counties for Turkey Vulture

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Kent CountyBest mid March · 180 checklists that week, 13,396 in all69%
  2. Caroline CountyBest the second week of March · 240 checklists that week, 11,067 in all61%
  3. Queen Anne's CountyBest early April · 549 checklists that week, 26,875 in all60%
  4. Wicomico CountyBest the second week of March · 212 checklists that week, 12,356 in all59%
  5. Talbot CountyBest the second week of April · 787 checklists that week, 31,140 in all58%
  6. Cecil CountyBest the second week of October · 284 checklists that week, 18,620 in all57%

Common questions

When do vultures arrive in Maryland?
The Turkey Vulture is in Maryland all year. It turns up on about 41% of checklists at its peak (early April) and on 24% in its quietest week (mid July).
When do vultures leave Maryland?
The Turkey Vulture does not leave Maryland: it is reported all year, from 24% of checklists in mid July to 41% in early April.
When is the best time to see vultures in Maryland?
The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in early April, on about 41% of Maryland checklists.
Which vultures are in Maryland?
Turkey Vulture and Black Vulture are reported regularly; the Turkey Vulture is the most common.