In Panama the Gray-necked Woodrail is known as ‘La Cocaleca’. This funny bird likes to live in swampy forests, mangroves, wet meadows and pastures with standing water. The Cocaleca is incredible hard to spot and is heard more often than seen. Early and late in the day you can hear its happy loud cackling call near the mangroves of Playa Las Lajas and when gathering in groups they sound like a real loud orchester! They are about the size of a small chicken and when the Cocaleca walks, its tale moves up and down. Cocaleca’s favorite diet consists of crabs, snails, spiders, cockroaches, grasshoppers, frogs, small snakes, berries, palm fruits, bananas, rice and corn.