WhenToBird

2 vulture species in North Carolina

When Do Vultures Arrive in North Carolina?

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 North Carolina. The Turkey Vulture is in North Carolina all year. It turns up on about 31% of checklists at its peak (late March) and on 17% in its quietest week (mid July).

When to look

PresentAll year
Peak weekMar 22-31late March
Quietest weekJul 15-21mid July

Best: late March. Here all year. Peak: on about 31% of North Carolina checklists.

  1. Janpeak season
  2. Febpeak season
  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. Decpeak season

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

Vultures in North Carolina, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Turkey Vultureall year–Mar 22-31–31%
Black Vultureall year–Apr 22-30–10%
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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina

Best counties for Turkey Vulture

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Bladen CountyBest mid September · 43 checklists that week, 3,758 in all81%
  2. Martin CountyBest late February · 24 checklists that week, 1,719 in all79%
  3. Lenoir CountyBest late March · 44 checklists that week, 2,189 in all76%
  4. Northampton CountyBest mid October · 12 checklists that week, 1,690 in all75%
  5. Anson CountyBest late October · 26 checklists that week, 2,224 in all73%
  6. Bertie CountyBest the second week of September · 11 checklists that week, 1,408 in all73%

Common questions

When do vultures arrive in North Carolina?
The Turkey Vulture is in North Carolina all year. It turns up on about 31% of checklists at its peak (late March) and on 17% in its quietest week (mid July).
When do vultures leave North Carolina?
The Turkey Vulture does not leave North Carolina: it is reported all year, from 17% of checklists in mid July to 31% in late March.
When is the best time to see vultures in North Carolina?
The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in late March, on about 31% of North Carolina checklists.
Which vultures are in North Carolina?
Turkey Vulture and Black Vulture are reported regularly; the Turkey Vulture is the most common.