WhenToBird

2 vulture species in Texas

When Do Vultures Arrive in Texas?

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 Texas. The Turkey Vulture is in Texas all year. It turns up on about 34% of checklists at its peak (mid March) and on 24% in its quietest week (mid July).

When to look

PresentAll year
Peak weekMar 15-21mid March
Quietest weekJul 15-21mid July

Best: mid March. Here all year. Peak: on about 34% of Texas checklists.

  1. Janpeak season
  2. Febpeak season
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Decpeak season

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

Vultures in Texas, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Turkey Vultureall year–Mar 15-21–34%
Black Vultureall year–Dec 15-21–23%
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 Texas 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 Texas

Best counties for Turkey Vulture

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Concho CountyBest late September · 29 checklists that week, 602 in all91%
  2. Crockett CountyBest late September · 28 checklists that week, 1,558 in all88%
  3. Red River CountyBest early November · 19 checklists that week, 1,179 in all87%
  4. Hemphill CountyBest the second week of April · 10 checklists that week, 281 in all84%
  5. Delta CountyBest mid October · 13 checklists that week, 636 in all81%
  6. San Augustine CountyBest mid October · 17 checklists that week, 745 in all79%

Common questions

When do vultures arrive in Texas?
The Turkey Vulture is in Texas all year. It turns up on about 34% of checklists at its peak (mid March) and on 24% in its quietest week (mid July).
When do vultures leave Texas?
The Turkey Vulture does not leave Texas: it is reported all year, from 24% of checklists in mid July to 34% in mid March.
When is the best time to see vultures in Texas?
The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in mid March, on about 34% of Texas checklists.
Which vultures are in Texas?
Turkey Vulture and Black Vulture are reported regularly; the Turkey Vulture is the most common.