WhenToBird

2 vulture species in Missouri

When Do Vultures Arrive in Missouri?

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

The Turkey Vulture is in Missouri all year. It turns up on about 43% of checklists at its peak (the second week of April) and on 4.2% in its quietest week (the second week of January). They are by far the most reported vultures in Missouri.

When to look

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

Best: the second week of April. Here all year. Peak: on about 43% of Missouri checklists.

  1. Janrare
  2. Febuncommon
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novcommon
  12. Decrare

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

Vultures in Missouri, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Turkey Vultureall year–Apr 8-14–43%
Black Vultureall year–Apr 1-7–2.2%
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 Missouri 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 Missouri

Best counties for Turkey Vulture

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Miller CountyBest early October · 21 checklists that week, 1,190 in all93%
  2. McDonald CountyBest late March · 18 checklists that week, 336 in all88%
  3. Oregon CountyBest late March · 49 checklists that week, 1,145 in all85%
  4. Grundy CountyBest late April · 11 checklists that week, 229 in all84%
  5. Polk CountyBest the second week of September · 21 checklists that week, 1,429 in all84%
  6. Randolph CountyBest early August · 14 checklists that week, 838 in all83%

Common questions

When do vultures arrive in Missouri?
The Turkey Vulture is in Missouri all year. It turns up on about 43% of checklists at its peak (the second week of April) and on 4.2% in its quietest week (the second week of January). They are by far the most reported vultures in Missouri.
When do vultures leave Missouri?
The Turkey Vulture does not leave Missouri: it is reported all year, from 4.2% of checklists in the second week of January to 43% in the second week of April.
When is the best time to see vultures in Missouri?
The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in the second week of April, on about 43% of Missouri checklists.
Which vultures are in Missouri?
Turkey Vulture and Black Vulture are reported regularly; the Turkey Vulture is the most common.