본 연구는 사육환경 조건에서 참수리(Haliaeetus pelagicus)의 연령에 따른 꼬리깃의 변화 과정을 조사하기 위해서 2000년 11월부터 2006년 7월까지 약 6년간 경성대학교 조류연구소에서 조사한 것이다. 꼬리깃의 깃갈이 시기는 보통 7월부터 시작해 익년 4월까지 진행되었으며, 1회의 깃갈이에 모든 깃이 교체되었다. 보통 12월 이전에 2/3 정도가 교체되었으며, 나머지는 익년 4월까지 모두 교체되었는데, 겨울동안에도 깃갈이가 지속되었다. 꼬리깃의 총 개수는 14개로써 깃갈이는 번갈아가면서 단계적으로 이루어졌고 암컷은 4단계, 수컷은 3단계로 진행되었는데 각 단계마다 좌.우측 깃이 대칭적으로 진행되는 것이 특징이었고 한 단계의 성장이 거의 끝날 때 다음단계가 시작되었다. 유조 꼬리깃의 빛깔은 흰색 바탕에 검은색 얼룩이 산재해 있고 깃의 끝부분에는 불규칙적인 검은색 띠가 있었는데 1-3세대깃(1-3차 여름깃)까지는 빛깔의 차이가 극히 적어 꼬리깃으로만 연령을 파악하기는 어려웠다. 또한 개체별로 나타나는 검은색 얼룩무늬의 양도 다르다는 것을 고려했다. 4세대 깃(4차 여름깃)은 3세대 깃에 비해서 큰 차이를 보이며 흰색깃에 약간의 검은색 얼룩만 존재하였다. 4차 깃갈이가 끝난 5세대 깃(5차 여름깃)은 순 백색의 완전한 성조 꼬리깃의 빛깔을 갖추었다. 야외에서 참수리를 관찰하였을 때 3세대 깃(3차 여름깃)까지는 연령을 판단하는데 신중한 검토가 필요하며 꼬리깃 외에 다른 부위의 깃 변화도 함께 관찰해야 할 것으로 생각한다.

This study conducted a survey on the moulting sequence subsequent to age of Haliaeetus pelagicus raised in captivity at the Ornithology Laboratory attached to Kyungsung University for about six years from November, 2000 until July, 2006. The survey indicated that the moult of rectrices usually began in July and continued until April of the next year and most of the rectrices were replaced by one-time moult. Usually, about two thirds of the tail feathers were replaced while the rest were replaced no later than April of the next year, and the moult also continued during the wintertime. The total number of rectrices was 14, and the moult progressed alternately on a systematic basis. The progress of the moult for female & male was made on four stages and three stages respectively and the characteristic shown on every stage of the moult was that the left & right tail feathers progressed symmetrically and not until one stage of progress almost completed did the next stage began. The color of the juvenile steller's sea-eagle was dotted with black spots on its original white color and there existed regular black belt on its feather's fringes; however, it was difficult to identify its age by tail feathers only because there was almost no difference in color between feathers ranging from the first to the third generation(1st-3rd summer feathers). In addition, this research took the different amounts of black-speckled pattern appearing by individual into consideration. There existed slight black speckles in white color feathers of the fourth generation(the 4th summer feathers) while showing a big difference compared to the 3rd generation feathers. The 5th generation feathers[the 5th summer feathers]were found to be equipped with perfect tail feathers having virgin white of a steller's sea-eagle after completing its 4th molt. When observing a steller's sea-eagle in the open air, it is necessary for an observer to have a deliberate examination in judging its age belonging to the 1st-3rd generation feathers, and it is considered that the changes of other parts of feathers should be also observed besides tail feathers.

• 강승구 | Kang, Seung-Gu
• 이인섭 | Lee, In-Sup