WhenToBird

2 vulture species in Tennessee

When Do Vultures Arrive in Tennessee?

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 Tennessee. The Turkey Vulture is in Tennessee all year. It turns up on about 28% of checklists at its peak (early April) and on 12% in its quietest week (the second week of January).

When to look

PresentAll year
Peak weekApr 1-7early April
Quietest weekJan 8-14the second week of January

Best: early April. Here all year. Peak: on about 28% of Tennessee checklists.

  1. Jancommon
  2. Febcommon
  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. Deccommon

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

Vultures in Tennessee, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Turkey Vultureall year–Apr 1-7–28%
Black Vultureall year–Apr 1-7–18%
0%10%20%30%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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee

Best counties for Turkey Vulture

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Lincoln CountyBest mid March · 70 checklists that week, 4,596 in all83%
  2. Lewis CountyBest late March · 41 checklists that week, 1,364 in all72%
  3. Humphreys CountyBest mid October · 80 checklists that week, 5,858 in all72%
  4. Decatur CountyBest late March · 15 checklists that week, 378 in all70%
  5. Perry CountyBest mid March · 73 checklists that week, 3,047 in all70%
  6. Houston CountyBest late March · 31 checklists that week, 1,234 in all67%

Common questions

When do vultures arrive in Tennessee?
The Turkey Vulture is in Tennessee all year. It turns up on about 28% of checklists at its peak (early April) and on 12% in its quietest week (the second week of January).
When do vultures leave Tennessee?
The Turkey Vulture does not leave Tennessee: it is reported all year, from 12% of checklists in the second week of January to 28% in early April.
When is the best time to see vultures in Tennessee?
The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in early April, on about 28% of Tennessee checklists.
Which vultures are in Tennessee?
Turkey Vulture and Black Vulture are reported regularly; the Turkey Vulture is the most common.