WhenToBird

2 vulture species in Pennsylvania

When Do Vultures Arrive in Pennsylvania?

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 Pennsylvania. The Turkey Vulture is in Pennsylvania all year. It turns up on about 32% of checklists at its peak (the second week of April) and on 14% in its quietest week (mid January).

When to look

PresentAll year
Peak weekApr 8-14the second week of April
Quietest weekJan 15-21mid January

Best: the second week of April. Here all year. Peak: on about 32% of Pennsylvania checklists.

  1. Jancommon
  2. Febcommon
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Deccommon

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

Vultures in Pennsylvania, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Turkey Vultureall year–Apr 8-14–32%
Black Vultureall year–Oct 22-31–7.6%
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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania

Best counties for Turkey Vulture

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Perry CountyBest late October · 228 checklists that week, 10,281 in all60%
  2. Mifflin CountyBest the second week of September · 109 checklists that week, 6,998 in all51%
  3. Chester CountyBest the second week of April · 3427 checklists that week, 144,121 in all50%
  4. Lancaster CountyBest the second week of April · 2659 checklists that week, 97,892 in all49%
  5. Schuylkill CountyBest the second week of October · 384 checklists that week, 22,261 in all49%
  6. Greene CountyBest late March · 78 checklists that week, 2,997 in all49%

Common questions

When do vultures arrive in Pennsylvania?
The Turkey Vulture is in Pennsylvania all year. It turns up on about 32% of checklists at its peak (the second week of April) and on 14% in its quietest week (mid January).
When do vultures leave Pennsylvania?
The Turkey Vulture does not leave Pennsylvania: it is reported all year, from 14% of checklists in mid January to 32% in the second week of April.
When is the best time to see vultures in Pennsylvania?
The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in the second week of April, on about 32% of Pennsylvania checklists.
Which vultures are in Pennsylvania?
Turkey Vulture and Black Vulture are reported regularly; the Turkey Vulture is the most common.