WhenToBird

2 vulture species in New York

When Do Vultures Arrive in New York?

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

The Turkey Vulture is in New York all year. It turns up on about 20% of checklists at its peak (the second week of April) and on 2.1% in its quietest week (early January). They are by far the most reported vultures in New York.

When to look

PresentAll year
Peak weekApr 8-14the second week of April
Quietest weekJan 1-7early January

Best: the second week of April. Here all year. Peak: on about 20% of New York 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. Decuncommon

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

Vultures in New York, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Turkey Vultureall year–Apr 8-14–20%
Black Vultureall year–Oct 22-31–1.2%
0%10%20%30%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 York 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 York

Best counties for Turkey Vulture

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Wayne CountyBest the second week of April · 1077 checklists that week, 37,738 in all42%
  2. Washington CountyBest late September · 186 checklists that week, 15,060 in all41%
  3. Chautauqua CountyBest late March · 1038 checklists that week, 35,772 in all41%
  4. Genesee CountyBest the second week of April · 667 checklists that week, 17,726 in all40%
  5. Putnam CountyBest the second week of April · 304 checklists that week, 13,177 in all40%
  6. Rockland CountyBest the second week of May · 1199 checklists that week, 35,579 in all37%

Common questions

When do vultures arrive in New York?
The Turkey Vulture is in New York all year. It turns up on about 20% of checklists at its peak (the second week of April) and on 2.1% in its quietest week (early January). They are by far the most reported vultures in New York.
When do vultures leave New York?
The Turkey Vulture does not leave New York: it is reported all year, from 2.1% of checklists in early January to 20% in the second week of April.
When is the best time to see vultures in New York?
The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in the second week of April, on about 20% of New York checklists.
Which vultures are in New York?
Turkey Vulture and Black Vulture are reported regularly; the Turkey Vulture is the most common.