When do vultures leave Vermont?

Most Turkey Vultures have left Vermont by late October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early November.

When is the best time to see vultures in Vermont?

The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in the second week of April, on about 17% of Vermont checklists.

Turkey Vulture · Cathartes aura

When Do Vultures Arrive in Vermont?

Photo: Andrew Murray, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Turkey Vultures reach Vermont in early March, are common by mid March, peak in the second week of April (17% of checklists), and most are gone by late October. They are the only regular vultures in Vermont.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 1-7early March

Common byMar 15-21mid March

PeakApr 8-14the second week of April

Most gone byOct 22-31late October

Best: the second week of April. First arrivals early March; most are gone by late October. Peak: on about 17% of Vermont checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febrare
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Junpeak season
Julcommon
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octpeak season
Novuncommon
Decnot usually seen

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

Vultures in Vermont, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Turkey Vulture	Mar 1-7	Mar 15-21	Apr 8-14	Oct 22-31	17%

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 Vermont 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 Vermont

Best counties for Turkey Vulture

Share of checklists at the peak

Grand Isle CountyBest mid April · 183 checklists that week, 8,507 in all31%
Chittenden CountyBest the second week of April · 3478 checklists that week, 109,477 in all24%
Windham CountyBest late August · 879 checklists that week, 39,105 in all22%
Addison CountyBest late September · 1527 checklists that week, 77,064 in all21%
Rutland CountyBest the second week of April · 1084 checklists that week, 46,909 in all20%
Franklin CountyBest the second week of August · 392 checklists that week, 25,284 in all20%

Common questions

When do vultures arrive in Vermont?: Turkey Vultures reach Vermont in early March, are common by mid March, peak in the second week of April (17% of checklists), and most are gone by late October. They are the only regular vultures in Vermont.
When do vultures leave Vermont?: Most Turkey Vultures have left Vermont by late October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early November.
When is the best time to see vultures in Vermont?: The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in the second week of April, on about 17% of Vermont checklists.