WhenToBird

Turkey Vulture · Cathartes aura

When Do Vultures Arrive in New Mexico?

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

Turkey Vultures reach New Mexico in the second week of March, are common by mid March, peak in the second week of September (26% of checklists), and most are gone by early October. They are the only regular vultures in New Mexico.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 8-14the second week of March
Common byMar 15-21mid March
PeakSep 8-14the second week of September
Most gone byOct 1-7early October

Best: the second week of September. First arrivals the second week of March; most are gone by early October. Peak: on about 26% of New Mexico checklists.

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

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

Vultures in New Mexico, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Turkey VultureMar 8-14Mar 15-21Sep 8-14Oct 1-726%
0%10%20%30%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 New Mexico 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 Mexico

Best counties for Turkey Vulture

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. De Baca CountyBest mid September · 98 checklists that week, 2,203 in all74%
  2. Sierra CountyBest early April · 283 checklists that week, 13,458 in all58%
  3. Union CountyBest mid September · 40 checklists that week, 2,373 in all58%
  4. Guadalupe CountyBest late April · 61 checklists that week, 2,614 in all58%
  5. Eddy CountyBest late April · 519 checklists that week, 11,011 in all57%
  6. Grant CountyBest the second week of September · 197 checklists that week, 16,662 in all49%

Common questions

When do vultures arrive in New Mexico?
Turkey Vultures reach New Mexico in the second week of March, are common by mid March, peak in the second week of September (26% of checklists), and most are gone by early October. They are the only regular vultures in New Mexico.
When do vultures leave New Mexico?
Most Turkey Vultures have left New Mexico by early 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 New Mexico?
The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in the second week of September, on about 26% of New Mexico checklists.