Solar eclipses are among nature’s most unusual and dramatic events. The Moon casts a shadow on the Earth that changes the light and temperature in some places for a short time as it moves between the Earth and the Sun. While scientists focus much attention on what solar eclipses reveal about the Sun and Moon, these events also provide a rare opportunity to observe wildlife in conditions that mimic sudden dusk. An annular solar eclipse, sometimes called the “Ring of Fire” eclipse, will occur on February 17, 2026, although it will not be visible from India. Still, understanding how animals typically react to eclipses helps us appreciate how both domestic and wild animals use environmental cues such as daylight, temperature, and seasonal rhythms to guide their behavior.According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, animals rely heavily on natural light to regulate their activity patterns. A sudden decrease in daylight can trigger behavioral changes similar to those seen at dawn or dusk. Changes in movement, vocalizations, and feeding behavior have been observed in many species during past solar eclipses. Researchers and wildlife observers have analyzed these reactions to learn more about how animals react to sudden changes in their environment and how their internal biological clocks adjust to unexpected changes.How different species react to a solar eclipse depends on the type of eclipse (total or annular), the habitat, and the species. People often talk about how dramatic total eclipses are when the Sun is completely covered. But even an annular eclipse, when the Sun is only partially covered, can affect light-sensitive animals. The following sections explain how different types of animals react and why these responses occur, based strictly on scientific reports and direct observations of past eclipses.
How light and temperature influence Animal behavior during the solar eclipse.
Animals rely on environmental cues such as sunlight and temperature to regulate their circadian rhythms, the internal “biological clock” that tells them when to feed, rest or seek shelter. During a solar eclipse, the sky darkens quickly and temperatures may drop slightly. These sudden changes can cause people to act the way they do at night or in the morning.According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, species ranging from insects to large mammals often change their activities when light levels drop unexpectedly, even for just a few minutes.
Animals and their behavior during the solar eclipse.
Birds: signs of morning and eveningBirds are among the animals that most frequently change behavior during eclipses. Anecdotal evidence and scientific studies show that many birds change their routines when light levels drop.
- Some birds reportedly become silent or return to their nests as if it were night.
- Modern research has documented that some species even alter their songs so that they resemble dawn or dusk calls during eclipses. A 2025 study published in the journal Science found that many birds changed the way they sang during a total eclipse. Some birds even started singing as if a new day was beginning when the light returned.
People think that these reactions are caused by changes in the surrounding light, not by an understanding of the eclipse itself.Insects: confusion and nesting patternsMany of the things insects do every day, such as foraging, mating, and moving, are guided by light. Research published in Scientific Reports showed that bees flew much less during an eclipse. This is probably because the lack of light made it more difficult for them to find flowers and move around.Some reports say that some insects, such as crickets and fireflies, may become more active when it gets dark suddenly, acting as they do at dusk.Mammals and other vertebrates.Large mammals and reptiles also act differently during eclipses. A study of zoo animals during a past eclipse, where researchers looked at 17 different species, found that about 75% showed behavioral changes. Many animals adopted behaviors typical of evening or nighttime routines, such as resting or reducing activity. Others showed signs of apparent anxiety or unusual movements that differed from their normal daytime behavior.Examples of recorded observations include:
- Giraffes and primates adjusting their movements as light levels dropped.
- Some elephants and parrots act as if it were dusk.
Different species react in different ways. Depending on how active they are normally and how sensitive they are to light, some mammals, reptiles, and birds may not change much.Marine and aquatic lifeMarine animals also respond to changes in sunlight, but this has been less systematically studied. Reports on the reaction of marine life, such as whales and fish, to eclipse conditions suggest that dimming light and changes in surface luminescence may influence behavior, although responses are species-specific and less documented than terrestrial reactions.
Why don’t all animals react the same way?
Scientific research indicates that animals do not react uniformly to a solar eclipse. The answers depend on:
- Species-specific light sensitivity.
- If the eclipse is total or only partial
- The natural sleep-wake cycle of the animal.
- Habitat and environmental cues immediately
For example, a scientific study published in the journal Science in 2025 found that some bird species acted very differently during an eclipse, while others did not. This shows that different species react and see sudden changes in light levels in different ways.
What this means for the solar eclipse on February 17
The annular eclipse on February 17, 2026 will not completely darken the sky like a total solar eclipse does, but it will still cause the sky to darken noticeably where it is visible. Even this small amount of light can cause animals that rely on sunlight to maintain their daily routines to change their ways.Understanding how wildlife reacts to eclipses helps scientists learn more about animal perception, circadian biology, and behavioral ecology. Clear patterns found in past events suggest that many species will temporarily change their behavior during such cosmic phenomena, even if they quickly return to normal once sunlight returns.