Wild Turkeys reach New Jersey in late January, are common by early March, peak in late April (5.2% of checklists), and most are gone by early October.
When to look
First arrivalsJan 22-31late January
Common byMar 1-7early March
PeakApr 22-30late April
Most gone byOct 1-7early October
Best: late April. First arrivals late January; most are gone by early October. Peak: on about 5.2% of New Jersey checklists.
Januncommon
Febuncommon
Marcommon
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Juncommon
Julcommon
Augcommon
Sepcommon
Octuncommon
Novuncommon
Decuncommon
Darker months: more checklists report it. Outlined: peak month.
Share of complete checklists reporting it, by week (4 per month). Grey bars: fewer than 10 checklists, not counted.
Frequency is the share of complete checklists in New Jersey 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.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
today
0%few checklistsno data
Each county is shaded by the share of complete checklists there that listed the bird, blended with the weeks either side. Darker is more often. It follows where people watch birds, not how many birds there are. How to read it.
Lake MarthaGloucester County, best mid May · 22 checklists that week, 426 in all50%
Dismal SwampMiddlesex County, best late April · 29 checklists that week, 294 in all41%
Celery FarmBergen County, best the second week of January · 167 checklists that week, 7,257 in all38%
Pillings LakeCamden County, best the second week of November · 34 checklists that week, 1,694 in all36%
Busy spots report more of everything; compare the checklist counts before you drive anywhere.
Best time of day
In New Jersey, the Wild Turkey is most often listed on checklists started between 6 and 8 am (4.3% of those checklists).
Share of checklists started in each local hour that reported it. It reflects when people go birding as well as when birds are active. Grey hours have too few checklists (under 2% of the state’s, or under 200) to judge.Week-by-week table
Month
Days 1-7
8-14
15-21
22-end
January
1.3%
1.4%
1.3%
1.4%
February
1.4%
1.5%
1.3%
1.6%
March
1.6%
2.0%
2.4%
3.0%
April
4.0%
4.9%
5.0%
5.3%
May
5.2%
4.4%
4.1%
3.7%
June
3.5%
2.7%
2.6%
2.8%
July
2.3%
2.1%
2.1%
2.1%
August
2.3%
2.1%
2.5%
2.8%
September
2.8%
2.4%
2.6%
2.2%
October
1.8%
1.6%
1.4%
1.6%
November
1.5%
1.5%
1.4%
1.5%
December
1.3%
1.4%
1.6%
1.4%
Neighboring states
Delaware: arrives mid March, 7 weeks later than New Jersey
Connecticut: arrives the second week of February, 2 weeks later than New Jersey
Pennsylvania: arrives early February, 1 week later than New Jersey
New York: arrives early February, 1 week later than New Jersey
Common questions
When do Wild Turkeys arrive in New Jersey?
Wild Turkeys reach New Jersey in late January, are common by early March, peak in late April (5.2% of checklists), and most are gone by early October.
When do Wild Turkeys leave New Jersey?
Most Wild Turkeys have left New Jersey by early October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late December.
When is the best time to see a Wild Turkey in New Jersey?
The Wild Turkey is reported most often in late April, on about 5.2% of New Jersey checklists.
Where in New Jersey are Wild Turkeys seen most often?
By county, Burlington County, Gloucester County, and Cumberland County have the highest peak reporting rates for the Wild Turkey (counties with at least 200 checklists).
