Systems and methods for obstruction detection during autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle landings, including unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with at least one video camera, an image processor that analyzes a teed from the video camera to detect possible obstructions, and an autopilot programmed to abort an autonomous landing; if it receives a signal indicating an obstruction was detected. In some examples, the systems and methods are in communication with a ground station to perform obstruction detection analysis instead of performing such processing on board the UAV. In some further examples, the landing area includes a ground-based visual target that the UAV can locate and home in upon from the air.