WhenToBird

2 vulture species in New Jersey

When Do Vultures Arrive in New Jersey?

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 New Jersey. The Turkey Vulture is in New Jersey all year. It turns up on about 39% of checklists at its peak (the second week of April) and on 21% in its quietest week (late July).

When to look

PresentAll year
Peak weekApr 8-14the second week of April
Quietest weekJul 22-31late July

Best: the second week of April. Here all year. Peak: on about 39% of New Jersey checklists.

  1. Jancommon
  2. Febcommon
  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. Deccommon

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

Vultures in New Jersey, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Turkey Vultureall year–Apr 8-14–39%
Black Vultureall year–Oct 15-21–12%
0%10%20%30%40%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 New Jersey 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 Jersey

Best counties for Turkey Vulture

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Salem CountyBest late March · 331 checklists that week, 9,658 in all63%
  2. Hunterdon CountyBest the second week of April · 1392 checklists that week, 57,610 in all56%
  3. Warren CountyBest mid October · 270 checklists that week, 20,077 in all51%
  4. Sussex CountyBest mid October · 462 checklists that week, 30,305 in all48%
  5. Mercer CountyBest the second week of April · 1181 checklists that week, 56,614 in all47%
  6. Burlington CountyBest the second week of April · 1171 checklists that week, 52,358 in all47%

Common questions

When do vultures arrive in New Jersey?
The Turkey Vulture is in New Jersey all year. It turns up on about 39% of checklists at its peak (the second week of April) and on 21% in its quietest week (late July).
When do vultures leave New Jersey?
The Turkey Vulture does not leave New Jersey: it is reported all year, from 21% of checklists in late July to 39% in the second week of April.
When is the best time to see vultures in New Jersey?
The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in the second week of April, on about 39% of New Jersey checklists.
Which vultures are in New Jersey?
Turkey Vulture and Black Vulture are reported regularly; the Turkey Vulture is the most common.