Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) is in the New World Vultures family (Cathartidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 179,151 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Turkey Vulture: observations by month (U.S.)
About Turkey Vulture
The turkey vulture (Cathartes aura), also known in some North American regions as the turkey buzzard (or just buzzard), and in some areas of the Caribbean as the John crow or carrion crow, is the most widespread of the New World vultures. One of three species in the genus Cathartes of the family Cathartidae, the turkey vulture ranges from southern Canada to the southernmost tip of South America. It inhabits a variety of open and semi-open...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Turkey Vulture by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 49,397 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Texas | 25,097 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Florida | 12,677 | January | Oct–Apr |
| Ohio | 5,998 | April | Mar–Oct |
| Pennsylvania | 5,899 | April | Feb–Nov |
| Virginia | 5,654 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Maryland | 5,612 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Oregon | 4,957 | May | Mar–Sep |
| Arizona | 4,708 | April | Mar–Sep |
| North Carolina | 4,020 | April | Mar–Feb |
| New York | 3,980 | April | Mar–Oct |
| New Jersey | 3,753 | March | Feb–Jan |
| Illinois | 3,451 | April | Mar–Oct |
| South Carolina | 2,856 | January | Dec–Nov |
| Massachusetts | 2,432 | April | Mar–Oct |
| Georgia | 2,191 | March | Feb–Jan |
| Michigan | 2,139 | April | Mar–Oct |
| Colorado | 2,003 | April | Apr–Sep |
| Washington | 1,948 | May | Apr–Sep |
| Missouri | 1,909 | April | Mar–Oct |
| Wisconsin | 1,788 | April | Mar–Oct |
| Tennessee | 1,746 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Minnesota | 1,711 | April | Apr–Sep |
| Alabama | 1,666 | October | Aug–Jun |
| Vermont | 1,595 | April | Mar–Oct |
| Indiana | 1,593 | April | Mar–Oct |
| New Mexico | 1,580 | April | Mar–Sep |
| Oklahoma | 1,550 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Utah | 1,345 | April | Apr–Sep |
| Arkansas | 1,175 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Kansas | 1,094 | April | Mar–Oct |
| Louisiana | 1,072 | January | Sep–May |
| Kentucky | 1,007 | April | Feb–Nov |
| Connecticut | 990 | April | Jan–Nov |
| Iowa | 945 | May | Mar–Oct |
| Delaware | 917 | April | Mar–Feb |
| West Virginia | 830 | April | Feb–Oct |
| Nevada | 735 | April | Mar–Sep |
| Idaho | 728 | April | Mar–Sep |
| Nebraska | 716 | May | Apr–Sep |
| Maine | 623 | April | Mar–Oct |
| Mississippi | 574 | January | Aug–Jun |
| New Hampshire | 556 | April | Mar–Sep |
| South Dakota | 517 | July | Apr–Sep |
| Wyoming | 470 | July | Apr–Sep |
| Montana | 336 | June | Apr–Sep |
| Rhode Island | 240 | May | Mar–Jun |
| District of Columbia | 215 | April | Mar–May |
| North Dakota | 155 | May | Apr–Sep |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (New World Vultures)
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Turkey Vulture?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to February.
Where is Turkey Vulture most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Texas, Florida.