WhenToBird

Turkey Vulture · Cathartes aura

When Do Vultures Arrive in Wisconsin?

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

Turkey Vultures reach Wisconsin in early March, are common by mid March, peak in late April (20% of checklists), and most are gone by mid October. They are the only regular vultures in Wisconsin.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 1-7early March
Common byMar 15-21mid March
PeakApr 22-30late April
Most gone byOct 15-21mid October

Best: late April. First arrivals early March; most are gone by mid October. Peak: on about 20% of Wisconsin checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febrare
  3. Marcommon
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novrare
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Vultures in Wisconsin, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Turkey VultureMar 1-7Mar 15-21Apr 22-30Oct 15-2120%
0%10%20%30%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 Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin

Best counties for Turkey Vulture

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Pepin CountyBest late September · 12 checklists that week, 929 in all67%
  2. Lafayette CountyBest the second week of October · 19 checklists that week, 1,911 in all59%
  3. Crawford CountyBest mid August · 46 checklists that week, 4,271 in all51%
  4. Green CountyBest early October · 31 checklists that week, 4,387 in all50%
  5. Calumet CountyBest the second week of May · 959 checklists that week, 12,359 in all44%
  6. Vernon CountyBest mid April · 338 checklists that week, 13,255 in all42%

Common questions

When do vultures arrive in Wisconsin?
Turkey Vultures reach Wisconsin in early March, are common by mid March, peak in late April (20% of checklists), and most are gone by mid October. They are the only regular vultures in Wisconsin.
When do vultures leave Wisconsin?
Most Turkey Vultures have left Wisconsin by mid 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 Wisconsin?
The Turkey Vulture is reported most often in late April, on about 20% of Wisconsin checklists.