When do vultures leave Nebraska?

Most Turkey Vultures have left Nebraska by the second week of October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid October.

When is the best time to see vultures in Nebraska?

The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in the second week of September, on about 29% of Nebraska checklists.

Turkey Vulture · Cathartes aura

When Do Vultures Arrive in Nebraska?

Photo: Andrew Murray, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Turkey Vultures reach Nebraska in mid March, are common by early April, peak in the second week of September (29% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of October. They are the only regular vultures in Nebraska.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 15-21mid March

Common byApr 1-7early April

PeakSep 8-14the second week of September

Most gone byOct 8-14the second week of October

Best: the second week of September. First arrivals mid March; most are gone by the second week of October. Peak: on about 29% of Nebraska checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febnot usually seen
Maruncommon
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Junpeak season
Julcommon
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octpeak season
Novnot usually seen
Decnot usually seen

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

Vultures in Nebraska, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Turkey Vulture	Mar 15-21	Apr 1-7	Sep 8-14	Oct 8-14	29%

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 Nebraska 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 Nebraska

Best counties for Turkey Vulture

Share of checklists at the peak

Hayes CountyBest the second week of September · 12 checklists that week, 219 in all84%
Frontier CountyBest early September · 13 checklists that week, 529 in all78%
Furnas CountyBest the second week of September · 10 checklists that week, 356 in all75%
Pawnee CountyBest late September · 11 checklists that week, 586 in all71%
Nemaha CountyBest late August · 21 checklists that week, 883 in all67%
Hitchcock CountyBest mid September · 66 checklists that week, 441 in all66%

Common questions

When do vultures arrive in Nebraska?: Turkey Vultures reach Nebraska in mid March, are common by early April, peak in the second week of September (29% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of October. They are the only regular vultures in Nebraska.
When do vultures leave Nebraska?: Most Turkey Vultures have left Nebraska by the second week of October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid October.
When is the best time to see vultures in Nebraska?: The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in the second week of September, on about 29% of Nebraska checklists.