WhenToBird

Turkey Vulture · Cathartes aura

When Do Vultures Arrive in Minnesota?

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

Turkey Vultures reach Minnesota in mid March, are common by early April, peak in early May (15% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of October. They are the only regular vultures in Minnesota.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 15-21mid March
Common byApr 1-7early April
PeakMay 1-7early May
Most gone byOct 8-14the second week of October

Best: early May. First arrivals mid March; most are gone by the second week of October. Peak: on about 15% of Minnesota checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Maruncommon
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Vultures in Minnesota, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Turkey VultureMar 15-21Apr 1-7May 1-7Oct 8-1415%
0%5%10%15%20%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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota

Best counties for Turkey Vulture

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Fillmore CountyBest late April · 146 checklists that week, 3,791 in all49%
  2. Winona CountyBest mid June · 169 checklists that week, 7,042 in all44%
  3. Houston CountyBest early May · 214 checklists that week, 4,754 in all42%
  4. Goodhue CountyBest mid May · 753 checklists that week, 16,294 in all41%
  5. Rock CountyBest late April · 111 checklists that week, 1,979 in all40%
  6. Blue Earth CountyBest early September · 85 checklists that week, 3,002 in all38%

Common questions

When do vultures arrive in Minnesota?
Turkey Vultures reach Minnesota in mid March, are common by early April, peak in early May (15% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of October. They are the only regular vultures in Minnesota.
When do vultures leave Minnesota?
Most Turkey Vultures have left Minnesota by the second week of 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 Minnesota?
The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in early May, on about 15% of Minnesota checklists.