WhenToBird

Turkey Vulture · Cathartes aura

When Do Vultures Arrive in Washington?

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

Turkey Vultures reach Washington in the second week of March, are common by late March, peak in mid June (9.9% of checklists), and most are gone by early October. They are the only regular vultures in Washington.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 8-14the second week of March
Common byMar 22-31late March
PeakJun 15-21mid June
Most gone byOct 1-7early October

Best: mid June. First arrivals the second week of March; most are gone by early October. Peak: on about 9.9% of Washington 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 Washington, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Turkey VultureMar 8-14Mar 22-31Jun 15-21Oct 1-79.9%
0%5%10%15%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 Washington 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 Washington

Best counties for Turkey Vulture

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Skamania CountyBest mid April · 200 checklists that week, 10,140 in all53%
  2. Wahkiakum CountyBest the second week of August · 88 checklists that week, 5,618 in all51%
  3. Cowlitz CountyBest mid September · 285 checklists that week, 15,273 in all39%
  4. Klickitat CountyBest mid June · 506 checklists that week, 19,718 in all33%
  5. Pacific CountyBest late June · 386 checklists that week, 19,516 in all31%
  6. Clark CountyBest mid September · 879 checklists that week, 53,250 in all28%

Common questions

When do vultures arrive in Washington?
Turkey Vultures reach Washington in the second week of March, are common by late March, peak in mid June (9.9% of checklists), and most are gone by early October. They are the only regular vultures in Washington.
When do vultures leave Washington?
Most Turkey Vultures have left Washington by early October, 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 Washington?
The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in mid June, on about 9.9% of Washington checklists.