When do vultures leave Oklahoma?

Turkey Vultures never fully leave Oklahoma: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid July, but some are still reported in every week, about 4.9% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see vultures in Oklahoma?

The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in the second week of April, on about 37% of Oklahoma checklists.

Which vultures are in Oklahoma?

Turkey Vulture and Black Vulture are reported regularly; the Turkey Vulture is the most common.

2 vulture species in Oklahoma

When Do Vultures Arrive in Oklahoma?

Photo: Andrew Murray, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Turkey Vultures and Black Vultures are the vultures you are most likely to see in Oklahoma. Turkey Vultures are in Oklahoma all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from mid March, peak in the second week of April (37% of checklists), and fall back by mid July. In the quietest week (the second week of January) they are still on about 4.9% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildMar 15-21mid March

PeakApr 8-14the second week of April

Fall back byJul 15-21mid July

FewestJan 8-14the second week of January

Best: the second week of April. Here all year; numbers build from mid March and fall back by mid July. Peak: on about 37% of Oklahoma checklists.

Januncommon
Febuncommon
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Juncommon
Julcommon
Augcommon
Seppeak season
Octpeak season
Novuncommon
Decuncommon

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

Vultures in Oklahoma, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Turkey Vulture	Mar 15-21	Mar 15-21	Apr 8-14	Jul 15-21	37%
Black Vulture	all year	–	Apr 8-14	–	5.8%

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 Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma

Best counties for Turkey Vulture

Share of checklists at the peak

Blaine CountyBest the second week of September · 11 checklists that week, 732 in all81%
Adair CountyBest late March · 16 checklists that week, 616 in all78%
Atoka CountyBest mid December · 15 checklists that week, 381 in all76%
Choctaw CountyBest mid November · 13 checklists that week, 844 in all75%
Greer CountyBest late April · 19 checklists that week, 390 in all71%
Kiowa CountyBest late May · 25 checklists that week, 354 in all69%

Common questions

When do vultures arrive in Oklahoma?: Turkey Vultures are in Oklahoma all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from mid March, peak in the second week of April (37% of checklists), and fall back by mid July. In the quietest week (the second week of January) they are still on about 4.9% of checklists.
When do vultures leave Oklahoma?: Turkey Vultures never fully leave Oklahoma: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid July, but some are still reported in every week, about 4.9% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see vultures in Oklahoma?: The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in the second week of April, on about 37% of Oklahoma checklists.
Which vultures are in Oklahoma?: Turkey Vulture and Black Vulture are reported regularly; the Turkey Vulture is the most common.