WhenToBird

2 vulture species in Virginia

When Do Vultures Arrive in Virginia?

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 Virginia. The Turkey Vulture is in Virginia all year. It turns up on about 38% of checklists at its peak (late March) and on 22% in its quietest week (mid July).

When to look

PresentAll year
Peak weekMar 22-31late March
Quietest weekJul 15-21mid July

Best: late March. Here all year. Peak: on about 38% of Virginia checklists.

  1. Janpeak season
  2. Febpeak season
  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. Decpeak season

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

Vultures in Virginia, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Turkey Vultureall year–Mar 22-31–38%
Black Vultureall year–Nov 15-21–16%
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 Virginia 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 Virginia

Best counties for Turkey Vulture

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Emporia CountyBest mid April · 11 checklists that week, 295 in all85%
  2. Hopewell CountyBest the second week of March · 57 checklists that week, 3,116 in all77%
  3. Manassas Park CountyBest the second week of June · 12 checklists that week, 343 in all76%
  4. King William CountyBest the second week of November · 20 checklists that week, 2,070 in all73%
  5. Patrick CountyBest early September · 45 checklists that week, 3,252 in all71%
  6. Charlotte CountyBest mid April · 23 checklists that week, 1,313 in all71%

Common questions

When do vultures arrive in Virginia?
The Turkey Vulture is in Virginia all year. It turns up on about 38% of checklists at its peak (late March) and on 22% in its quietest week (mid July).
When do vultures leave Virginia?
The Turkey Vulture does not leave Virginia: it is reported all year, from 22% of checklists in mid July to 38% in late March.
When is the best time to see vultures in Virginia?
The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in late March, on about 38% of Virginia checklists.
Which vultures are in Virginia?
Turkey Vulture and Black Vulture are reported regularly; the Turkey Vulture is the most common.