WhenToBird

Turkey Vulture · Cathartes aura

When Do Vultures Arrive in Utah?

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

Turkey Vultures reach Utah in the second week of March, are common by late March, peak in late April (16% of checklists), and most are gone by late September. They are the only regular vultures in Utah.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 8-14the second week of March
Common byMar 22-31late March
PeakApr 22-30late April
Most gone bySep 22-30late September

Best: late April. First arrivals the second week of March; most are gone by late September. Peak: on about 16% of Utah checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marcommon
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Vultures in Utah, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Turkey VultureMar 8-14Mar 22-31Apr 22-30Sep 22-3016%
0%5%10%15%20%Turkey VultureJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • 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 Utah 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 Utah

Best counties for Turkey Vulture

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Morgan CountyBest the second week of September · 50 checklists that week, 3,178 in all46%
  2. Daggett CountyBest the second week of June · 81 checklists that week, 1,885 in all39%
  3. Wasatch CountyBest the second week of May · 277 checklists that week, 7,780 in all34%
  4. Summit CountyBest mid April · 282 checklists that week, 13,829 in all32%
  5. Kane CountyBest the second week of September · 170 checklists that week, 6,105 in all31%
  6. Garfield CountyBest mid April · 385 checklists that week, 10,367 in all30%

Common questions

When do vultures arrive in Utah?
Turkey Vultures reach Utah in the second week of March, are common by late March, peak in late April (16% of checklists), and most are gone by late September. They are the only regular vultures in Utah.
When do vultures leave Utah?
Most Turkey Vultures have left Utah by late September, 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 Utah?
The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in late April, on about 16% of Utah checklists.