When do vultures leave New Hampshire?

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

When is the best time to see vultures in New Hampshire?

The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in the second week of April, on about 14% of New Hampshire checklists.

Turkey Vulture · Cathartes aura

When Do Vultures Arrive in New Hampshire?

Photo: Andrew Murray, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Turkey Vultures reach New Hampshire in late December, are common by early March, peak in the second week of April (14% of checklists), and most are gone by late October. They are the only regular vultures in New Hampshire.

When to look

First arrivalsDec 22-31late December

Common byMar 1-7early March

PeakApr 8-14the second week of April

Most gone byOct 22-31late October

Best: the second week of April. First arrivals late December; most are gone by late October. Peak: on about 14% of New Hampshire checklists.

Janrare
Febuncommon
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Junpeak season
Julcommon
Augcommon
Seppeak season
Octpeak season
Novuncommon
Decrare

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

Vultures in New Hampshire, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Turkey Vulture	Dec 22-31	Mar 1-7	Apr 8-14	Oct 22-31	14%

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 New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire

Best counties for Turkey Vulture

Share of checklists at the peak

Strafford CountyBest the second week of October · 540 checklists that week, 41,888 in all31%
Cheshire CountyBest late September · 699 checklists that week, 39,834 in all19%
Carroll CountyBest early May · 972 checklists that week, 30,580 in all18%
Sullivan CountyBest late April · 373 checklists that week, 13,105 in all17%
Hillsborough CountyBest early October · 802 checklists that week, 50,125 in all16%
Belknap CountyBest mid April · 406 checklists that week, 13,295 in all15%

Common questions

When do vultures arrive in New Hampshire?: Turkey Vultures reach New Hampshire in late December, are common by early March, peak in the second week of April (14% of checklists), and most are gone by late October. They are the only regular vultures in New Hampshire.
When do vultures leave New Hampshire?: Most Turkey Vultures have left New Hampshire by late October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of December.
When is the best time to see vultures in New Hampshire?: The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in the second week of April, on about 14% of New Hampshire checklists.