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David S. Lee and Mary K. Clark 
Fig. 4. Plumage comparison of adult (NCSM 8479, female) and young- 
of-the-year (NCSM 9988, male) American swallow-tailed kites ( Elanoides 
forficatus ). Specimens from July 1982, St. Johns River, Florida; A. Top 
ventral aspect left adult, right young-of-year. Bottom dorsal aspect, adult 
on left. Streaking on head and neck of young-of-year is caused by tan 
feather shafts. The occasional dark feather shafts on adult are black. B. 
Dorsal feathers of adult (left) and young-of-year. Feathers of young are 
white edges, whereas new feathers of adult lack white edges. 
