The Monk vulture is the largest of the European vultures, and its presence extends from the Iberian Peninsula to eastern Mongolia. This large raptor has entirely dark brown plumage that becomes lighter with age, and its head is covered with a light gray or sometimes whitish down. Apart from the difference in size, the Monk vulture displays no other sexual dimorphism. It is easily recognizable in full flight by its imposing size and the span of its wide wings (between 8.2 and 9.5 ft/250 and 290 cm). Adult Monk vultures are sedentary and rarely stray from their home. Unlike the Griffon vulture, the couples do not live territorially in colonies but more distantly with nests several hundred meters apart.