WhenToBird

2 vulture species in South Carolina

When Do Vultures Arrive in South 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 South Carolina. The Turkey Vulture is in South Carolina all year. It turns up on about 32% of checklists at its peak (the second week of March) and on 19% in its quietest week (the second week of July).

When to look

PresentAll year
Peak weekMar 8-14the second week of March
Quietest weekJul 8-14the second week of July

Best: the second week of March. Here all year. Peak: on about 32% of South 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 South Carolina, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Turkey Vultureall year–Mar 8-14–32%
Black Vultureall year–Apr 1-7–14%
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 South 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 South Carolina

Best counties for Turkey Vulture

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Williamsburg CountyBest mid October · 14 checklists that week, 1,512 in all75%
  2. Marion CountyBest mid April · 16 checklists that week, 327 in all71%
  3. Marlboro CountyBest the second week of October · 12 checklists that week, 686 in all68%
  4. Allendale CountyBest early March · 18 checklists that week, 1,172 in all67%
  5. Clarendon CountyBest the second week of March · 168 checklists that week, 9,189 in all66%
  6. Union CountyBest late March · 75 checklists that week, 851 in all66%

Common questions

When do vultures arrive in South Carolina?
The Turkey Vulture is in South Carolina all year. It turns up on about 32% of checklists at its peak (the second week of March) and on 19% in its quietest week (the second week of July).
When do vultures leave South Carolina?
The Turkey Vulture does not leave South Carolina: it is reported all year, from 19% of checklists in the second week of July to 32% in the second week of March.
When is the best time to see vultures in South Carolina?
The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in the second week of March, on about 32% of South Carolina checklists.
Which vultures are in South Carolina?
Turkey Vulture and Black Vulture are reported regularly; the Turkey Vulture is the most common.