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Animals can change their behavior during a solar eclipse, but there is no single response shared by all species. NASA’s Eclipse Soundscapes project is studying these changes; its April 2025 update described early evidence of dusk-like behavior in some species during totality, while emphasizing that analysis was still underway.
During a total eclipse, daylight drops suddenly and the environment can resemble dusk. Some reported examples include birds stopping their calls, crickets chirping, and bees returning to their hives—but these are observations, not universal rules.
What NASA’s Eclipse Soundscapes project has found
Eclipse Soundscapes gathered public observations and audio during the October 14, 2023 annular eclipse and the April 8, 2024 total eclipse. The project revisits an earlier effort to document how wildlife responds to eclipses, using sound and other observations to investigate ecological changes.
In an April 2025 update, NASA reported that initial inspection of project data suggested some species may show dusk-like behavior during totality. NASA said it was still checking recording quality and timestamps and applying machine-learning and spectrographic analysis to compare regions. Treat this as preliminary evidence, not a completed finding or a general rule about animal behavior.
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NASA reported that the project had collected 25 terabytes of audio data across the 2023 and 2024 eclipses, and that more than 500 volunteers used AudioMoth recorders for the April 2024 eclipse. These figures are reported by NASA in its 2025 update.
A separate 2025 peer-reviewed study analyzed more than 10,000 community observations and nearly 100,000 vocalizations. It reported that more than half of the wild bird species in its dataset changed biological rhythms, and many produced a dawn chorus after the eclipse. This is broader research context, not a finding attributed to NASA’s Eclipse Soundscapes project.
Why an eclipse can affect animal behavior
Light helps many animals organize daily activity, including when to rest, feed, move, or make sounds. During totality, the sudden reduction in daylight—and the associated drop in temperature—can prompt some animals to alter typical daytime behavior.
Responses may vary by species, location, weather, habitat, and time of day. An eclipse is brief and does not reproduce all the conditions of an ordinary night, so a dusk-like response should not be taken to mean that every animal thinks night has arrived.
How eclipse types differ
| Eclipse type | What happens | Viewing protection |
|---|---|---|
| Partial | Only part of the Sun is covered from the observer’s location. | Use solar protection throughout direct viewing. |
| Annular | The Moon covers the center of the Sun but leaves a bright ring visible. | Use solar protection throughout direct viewing. |
| Total | Along the path of totality, the Moon fully covers the Sun’s bright face briefly. | Protection is required except during the brief period of totality, when the bright face is fully covered. |
The project’s 2023 campaign coincided with an annular eclipse, while its 2024 campaign coincided with a total eclipse. These events are not identical conditions for observing wildlife.
What animals might do
Birds may stop calling or change their activity
Birds are among the animals people report noticing during eclipses. Some may stop calling as daylight fades; the separate 2025 bird study also reported dawn-like vocal activity after the eclipse among many species in its dataset. Neither observation establishes one response for all birds.
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Do crickets chirp during totality?
Crickets chirping during totality is a question raised by eclipse observers and researchers. NASA includes reports of crickets beginning to chirp among examples of possible dusk-like behavior. A historical account from the 1932 eclipse described crickets chirping during totality, but it is an anecdote, not proof of a universal response.
Other animals may alter their routines
Reports around eclipses include bees returning to their hives and animals changing typical daytime behavior. These examples are worth observing, but they should be described as reports rather than expected responses for every animal or species.
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Dogs, cats, horses, and livestock may react individually to unusual light, temperature, sounds, or changes in their owners’ behavior. There is no basis in the cited evidence for saying that all pets or farm animals will be frightened or harmed. Keep their routine steady and observe without provoking a reaction.
What the historical observations can—and cannot—tell us
For the 1932 total eclipse, the Boston Society of Natural History formed an Eclipse Behavior Committee and collected 498 reports about birds, mammals, insects, reptiles, and fish. NASA cautions that many historical accounts lacked enough detail or accuracy to validate scientific hypotheses.
One report attributed to Vernon Bailey of New Hampshire said: “During the time of totality not a sound was heard except the chirping of numerous crickets.” It is a vivid historical observation, not evidence that crickets always chirp during an eclipse.
How to participate in Eclipse Soundscapes
NASA’s project offered different roles, ranging from learning and equipment-free observation to audio collection with an AudioMoth recorder. The project’s major documented campaigns were in 2023 and 2024, so check its current instructions before assuming a new participation opportunity is open.
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| Role | Activity | Equipment |
|---|---|---|
| Apprentice | Learn about the project and eclipses. | No equipment required. |
| Observer | Record multisensory observations, such as changes in sound, visible activity, light, or temperature. | No equipment required. |
| Data Collector | Record environmental audio following project instructions. | AudioMoth recorder and microSD card. |
When an eligible opportunity is open, follow the project’s current training and submission guidance. To make an observation useful:
- Note what animals and sounds you observe before the eclipse, if possible.
- Record the local time, location, weather, habitat, and eclipse phase or conditions.
- Describe what changed during and after the eclipse, separating direct observations from explanations.
- Submit observations through the project’s designated process, if participation is open.
NASA project communications coordinator Kelsey Perrett described the project’s approach this way: “We want to show that eclipses can be studied in a multi-sensory manner, through sound and feeling and other forms of observation.”
How to observe wildlife without disturbing it
- Observe from a lawful, safe location and stay out of restricted areas.
- Do not handle, chase, feed, call to, or otherwise provoke wildlife.
- Keep pets controlled and prevent them from pursuing wildlife.
- Describe uncertain identifications honestly instead of guessing.
- Write what you observed separately from what you think caused it.
Solar-viewing safety
Ordinary sunglasses are not safe for looking at the Sun. For direct viewing during partial and annular eclipses, use solar viewers that comply with ISO 12312-2. Inspect them and discard damaged viewers. NASA does not endorse specific brands.
During a total eclipse, direct unprotected viewing is safe only while the Moon fully covers the Sun’s bright face. Put solar protection back on as soon as any bright solar surface reappears. A pinhole projector is an indirect viewing alternative.
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Never look at the Sun through a camera, binocular, or telescope without a proper solar filter attached to the front of the optics. Eclipse glasses do not make viewing through unfiltered optical equipment safe.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
Do animals act differently during a solar eclipse?
Some may alter their activity when daylight suddenly fades, but responses vary. NASA’s early project results suggest possible dusk-like behavior in some species during totality; analysis was still underway in its April 2025 update.
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Do crickets chirp during totality?
There are historical and other reports of crickets chirping during an eclipse. They are observations, not proof that all crickets—or all insects—do so.
Will my dog or cat be affected by an eclipse?
Your pet may react to unusual light, temperature, sounds, or your behavior, or may show no obvious change. Keep its routine normal and do not provoke a reaction.
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The documented campaigns covered the 2023 annular eclipse and 2024 total eclipse. Check the project’s current instructions for any future opportunities. Its Observer role did not require equipment; Data Collectors used an AudioMoth recorder and microSD card.
Are animals in danger during an eclipse?
The cited evidence describes possible temporary changes in behavior, not widespread animal injury. For people, the key safety issue is using proper solar protection during partial and annular phases and following total-eclipse viewing guidance.
The Bottom Line
Solar eclipses can briefly change the environmental cues animals experience, and some may alter their behavior. NASA’s Eclipse Soundscapes project reported preliminary indications of dusk-like behavior in some species during totality, but its analysis was continuing in the April 2025 update. Observe wildlife without disturbing it, record what you actually see or hear, and protect your eyes whenever you look toward the Sun.
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