WhenToBird

2 vulture species in West Virginia

When Do Vultures Arrive in West 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 West Virginia. The Turkey Vulture is in West Virginia all year. It turns up on about 38% of checklists at its peak (the second week of April) and on 9.5% in its quietest week (mid January).

When to look

PresentAll year
Peak weekApr 8-14the second week of April
Quietest weekJan 15-21mid January

Best: the second week of April. Here all year. Peak: on about 38% of West Virginia checklists.

  1. Januncommon
  2. Febcommon
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Decuncommon

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

Vultures in West Virginia, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Turkey Vultureall year–Apr 8-14–38%
Black Vultureall year–Sep 22-30–6.1%
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 West 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 West Virginia

Best counties for Turkey Vulture

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Doddridge CountyBest the second week of April · 16 checklists that week, 427 in all70%
  2. Monroe CountyBest mid October · 32 checklists that week, 1,298 in all68%
  3. Tyler CountyBest late April · 11 checklists that week, 214 in all67%
  4. Summers CountyBest early April · 110 checklists that week, 5,370 in all66%
  5. Wetzel CountyBest mid April · 28 checklists that week, 1,196 in all65%
  6. Wayne CountyBest late March · 35 checklists that week, 816 in all65%

Common questions

When do vultures arrive in West Virginia?
The Turkey Vulture is in West Virginia all year. It turns up on about 38% of checklists at its peak (the second week of April) and on 9.5% in its quietest week (mid January).
When do vultures leave West Virginia?
The Turkey Vulture does not leave West Virginia: it is reported all year, from 9.5% of checklists in mid January to 38% in the second week of April.
When is the best time to see vultures in West Virginia?
The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in the second week of April, on about 38% of West Virginia checklists.
Which vultures are in West Virginia?
Turkey Vulture and Black Vulture are reported regularly; the Turkey Vulture is the most common.