When do vultures leave North Dakota?

Most Turkey Vultures have left North Dakota by early October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of October.

When is the best time to see vultures in North Dakota?

The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in the second week of September, on about 12% of North Dakota checklists.

Turkey Vulture · Cathartes aura

When Do Vultures Arrive in North Dakota?

Photo: Andrew Murray, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Turkey Vultures reach North Dakota in late March, are common by the second week of April, peak in the second week of September (12% of checklists), and most are gone by early October. They are the only regular vultures in North Dakota.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 22-31late March

Common byApr 8-14the second week of April

PeakSep 8-14the second week of September

Most gone byOct 1-7early October

Best: the second week of September. First arrivals late March; most are gone by early October. Peak: on about 12% of North Dakota checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febnot usually seen
Marrare
Aprcommon
Maycommon
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octcommon
Novnot usually seen
Decnot usually seen

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

Vultures in North Dakota, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Turkey Vulture	Mar 22-31	Apr 8-14	Sep 8-14	Oct 1-7	12%

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 North Dakota 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 Dakota

Best counties for Turkey Vulture

Share of checklists at the peak

Sioux CountyBest mid September · 10 checklists that week, 340 in all62%
Grant CountyBest mid September · 36 checklists that week, 605 in all38%
Dunn CountyBest early September · 14 checklists that week, 661 in all35%
Mercer CountyBest early September · 36 checklists that week, 2,518 in all35%
Emmons CountyBest early July · 34 checklists that week, 687 in all34%
Adams CountyBest mid September · 10 checklists that week, 683 in all30%

Common questions

When do vultures arrive in North Dakota?: Turkey Vultures reach North Dakota in late March, are common by the second week of April, peak in the second week of September (12% of checklists), and most are gone by early October. They are the only regular vultures in North Dakota.
When do vultures leave North Dakota?: Most Turkey Vultures have left North Dakota by early October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of October.
When is the best time to see vultures in North Dakota?: The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in the second week of September, on about 12% of North Dakota checklists.