When do vultures leave South Dakota?

Most Turkey Vultures have left South 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 South Dakota?

The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in the second week of September, on about 27% of South Dakota checklists.

Turkey Vulture · Cathartes aura

When Do Vultures Arrive in South Dakota?

Photo: Andrew Murray, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Turkey Vultures reach South Dakota in late March, are common by the second week of April, peak in the second week of September (27% of checklists), and most are gone by early October. They are the only regular vultures in South 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 27% of South Dakota checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febnot usually seen
Maruncommon
Aprcommon
Maypeak season
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 South 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	27%

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 South 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 South Dakota

Best counties for Turkey Vulture

Share of checklists at the peak

Union CountyBest early September · 17 checklists that week, 882 in all71%
Hughes CountyBest late August · 86 checklists that week, 3,765 in all63%
Clay CountyBest the second week of September · 39 checklists that week, 2,633 in all48%
Lawrence CountyBest the second week of May · 118 checklists that week, 3,847 in all46%
Stanley CountyBest mid July · 26 checklists that week, 2,615 in all42%
Gregory CountyBest early June · 15 checklists that week, 472 in all42%

Common questions

When do vultures arrive in South Dakota?: Turkey Vultures reach South Dakota in late March, are common by the second week of April, peak in the second week of September (27% of checklists), and most are gone by early October. They are the only regular vultures in South Dakota.
When do vultures leave South Dakota?: Most Turkey Vultures have left South 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 South Dakota?: The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in the second week of September, on about 27% of South Dakota checklists.