diff --git a/apps/macos/Sources/Clawdis/MenuBar.swift b/apps/macos/Sources/Clawdis/MenuBar.swift
index 03d60aba6..5ddebea24 100644
--- a/apps/macos/Sources/Clawdis/MenuBar.swift
+++ b/apps/macos/Sources/Clawdis/MenuBar.swift
@@ -192,7 +192,8 @@ private struct CritterStatusLabel: View {
                         blink: self.blinkAmount,
                         legWiggle: max(self.legWiggle, self.isWorking ? 0.6 : 0),
                         earWiggle: self.earWiggle,
-                        earScale: self.earBoostActive ? 1.9 : 1.0))
+                        earScale: self.earBoostActive ? 1.9 : 1.0,
+                        earHoles: self.earBoostActive))
                         .frame(width: 18, height: 16)
                         .rotationEffect(.degrees(self.wiggleAngle), anchor: .center)
                         .offset(x: self.wiggleOffset)
@@ -342,7 +343,8 @@ enum CritterIconRenderer {
         blink: CGFloat,
         legWiggle: CGFloat = 0,
         earWiggle: CGFloat = 0,
-        earScale: CGFloat = 1) -> NSImage
+        earScale: CGFloat = 1,
+        earHoles: Bool = false) -> NSImage
     {
         let image = NSImage(size: size)
         image.lockFocus()
@@ -362,6 +364,16 @@ enum CritterIconRenderer {
         let earW = w * 0.22
         let earH = bodyH * 0.66 * earScale * (1 - 0.08 * abs(earWiggle))
         let earCorner = earW * 0.24
+        let leftEarRect = CGRect(
+            x: bodyX - earW * 0.55 + earWiggle,
+            y: bodyY + bodyH * 0.08 + earWiggle * 0.4,
+            width: earW,
+            height: earH)
+        let rightEarRect = CGRect(
+            x: bodyX + bodyW - earW * 0.45 - earWiggle,
+            y: bodyY + bodyH * 0.08 - earWiggle * 0.4,
+            width: earW,
+            height: earH)
 
         let legW = w * 0.11
         let legH = h * 0.26
@@ -385,20 +397,12 @@ enum CritterIconRenderer {
             cornerHeight: bodyCorner,
             transform: nil))
         ctx.addPath(CGPath(
-            roundedRect: CGRect(
-                x: bodyX - earW * 0.55 + earWiggle,
-                y: bodyY + bodyH * 0.08 + earWiggle * 0.4,
-                width: earW,
-                height: earH),
+            roundedRect: leftEarRect,
             cornerWidth: earCorner,
             cornerHeight: earCorner,
             transform: nil))
         ctx.addPath(CGPath(
-            roundedRect: CGRect(
-                x: bodyX + bodyW - earW * 0.45 - earWiggle,
-                y: bodyY + bodyH * 0.08 - earWiggle * 0.4,
-                width: earW,
-                height: earH),
+            roundedRect: rightEarRect,
             cornerWidth: earCorner,
             cornerHeight: earCorner,
             transform: nil))
@@ -416,6 +420,33 @@ enum CritterIconRenderer {
         let leftCenter = CGPoint(x: w / 2 - eyeOffset, y: eyeY)
         let rightCenter = CGPoint(x: w / 2 + eyeOffset, y: eyeY)
 
+        if earHoles || earScale > 1.05 {
+            let holeW = earW * 0.6
+            let holeH = earH * 0.46
+            let holeCorner = holeW * 0.34
+            let leftHoleRect = CGRect(
+                x: leftEarRect.midX - holeW / 2,
+                y: leftEarRect.midY - holeH / 2 + earH * 0.04,
+                width: holeW,
+                height: holeH)
+            let rightHoleRect = CGRect(
+                x: rightEarRect.midX - holeW / 2,
+                y: rightEarRect.midY - holeH / 2 + earH * 0.04,
+                width: holeW,
+                height: holeH)
+
+            ctx.addPath(CGPath(
+                roundedRect: leftHoleRect,
+                cornerWidth: holeCorner,
+                cornerHeight: holeCorner,
+                transform: nil))
+            ctx.addPath(CGPath(
+                roundedRect: rightHoleRect,
+                cornerWidth: holeCorner,
+                cornerHeight: holeCorner,
+                transform: nil))
+        }
+
         let left = CGMutablePath()
         left.move(to: CGPoint(x: leftCenter.x - eyeW / 2, y: leftCenter.y - eyeH))
         left.addLine(to: CGPoint(x: leftCenter.x + eyeW / 2, y: leftCenter.y))
diff --git a/docs/mac/icon.md b/docs/mac/icon.md
index 06a102d10..2aad77d56 100644
--- a/docs/mac/icon.md
+++ b/docs/mac/icon.md
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ Author: steipete · Updated: 2025-12-06 · Scope: macOS app (`apps/macos`)
 
 - **Idle:** Normal icon animation (blink, occasional wiggle).
 - **Paused:** Status item uses `appearsDisabled`; no motion.
-- **Voice trigger (big ears):** Voice wake detector calls `AppState.triggerVoiceEars()` → `earBoostActive=true` for ~5s. Ears scale up (1.9x) then auto-reset. Only fired from the in-app voice pipeline.
+- **Voice trigger (big ears):** Voice wake detector calls `AppState.triggerVoiceEars()` → `earBoostActive=true` for ~5s. Ears scale up (1.9x), get circular ear holes for readability, then auto-reset. Only fired from the in-app voice pipeline.
 - **Working (agent running):** `AppState.isWorking=true` drives a “tail/leg scurry” micro-motion: faster leg wiggle and slight offset while work is in-flight. Currently toggled around WebChat agent runs; add the same toggle around other long tasks when you wire them.
 
 Wiring points
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ Wiring points
 - Agent activity: set `AppStateStore.shared.setWorking(true/false)` around work spans (already done in WebChat agent call). Keep spans short and reset in `defer` blocks to avoid stuck animations.
 
 Shapes & sizes
-- Base icon drawn in `CritterIconRenderer.makeIcon(blink:legWiggle:earWiggle:earScale:)`.
-- Ear scale defaults to `1.0`; voice boost sets `earScale=1.9` without changing overall frame (18×16pt template image).
+- Base icon drawn in `CritterIconRenderer.makeIcon(blink:legWiggle:earWiggle:earScale:earHoles:)`.
+- Ear scale defaults to `1.0`; voice boost sets `earScale=1.9` and toggles `earHoles=true` without changing overall frame (18×16pt template image).
 - Scurry uses leg wiggle up to ~1.0 with a small horizontal jiggle; it’s additive to any existing idle wiggle.
 
 Behavioral notes