WhenToBird

2 vulture species in Rhode Island

When Do Vultures Arrive in Rhode Island?

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

Turkey Vultures are in Rhode Island all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from mid March, peak in late April (15% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of June. In the quietest week (mid December) they are still on about 2.9% of checklists. They are by far the most reported vultures in Rhode Island.

When to look

Numbers buildMar 15-21mid March
PeakApr 22-30late April
Fall back byJun 8-14the second week of June
FewestDec 15-21mid December

Best: late April. Here all year; numbers build from mid March and fall back by the second week of June. Peak: on about 15% of Rhode Island checklists.

  1. Januncommon
  2. Febuncommon
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novcommon
  12. Decuncommon

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

Vultures in Rhode Island, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Turkey VultureMar 15-21Mar 15-21Apr 22-30Jun 8-1415%
Black VultureSep 1-7Sep 1-7Mar 8-14Aug 8-141.1%
0%5%10%15%20%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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island

Best counties for Turkey Vulture

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Washington CountyBest the second week of April · 1294 checklists that week, 65,038 in all18%
  2. Newport CountyBest early May · 1027 checklists that week, 33,574 in all16%
  3. Providence CountyBest late April · 1311 checklists that week, 40,898 in all14%
  4. Kent CountyBest mid April · 544 checklists that week, 16,966 in all12%
  5. Bristol CountyBest the second week of April · 357 checklists that week, 15,899 in all8.4%

Common questions

When do vultures arrive in Rhode Island?
Turkey Vultures are in Rhode Island all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from mid March, peak in late April (15% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of June. In the quietest week (mid December) they are still on about 2.9% of checklists. They are by far the most reported vultures in Rhode Island.
When do vultures leave Rhode Island?
Turkey Vultures never fully leave Rhode Island: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by the second week of June, but some are still reported in every week, about 2.9% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see vultures in Rhode Island?
The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in late April, on about 15% of Rhode Island checklists.
Which vultures are in Rhode Island?
Turkey Vulture and Black Vulture are reported regularly; the Turkey Vulture is the most common.