Introduction Wildlife conservation in urban habitats is rapidly gaining importance as urban areas expand exponentially, covering larger areas leading to losses in native biodiversity (Jokimaki et al. 2005). With the spread of suburbia, however, comes the opportunity for some species to take advantage of new resources (DeStefano & Degraaf 2003). There are growing instances where some species are beginning to adapt to urban conditions (Hansen & Beringer 1997; Beck & Heinsohn 2006). However, generalist scavengers and predators benefit excessively from anthropogenic changes, increasing predation on the native wildlife vulnerable in urban habitats (Andrén 1992; Kristan & Boarman 2003; Marzluff & Neatherlin 2006). The Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus is a plover that resides in the open countryside, ploughed fields, grazing patches, and margins and dry beds of water bodies, in parts of Asia (Ali 1996). It is monogamous and a highly territorial breeder. Lapwings are known to occupy areas that have dense human population (Piersma & Wiersma, 1996) and are commonly sighted in urban areas within Mumbai city limits of Maharashtra state. In natural conditions, its eggs are laid in a ‘ground scrape’ or a depression, sometimes fringed with pebbles and goat, or, hare droppings (Sharma 1992), although there are reports of breeding on buildings in cities (Mundkur 1985). Here, we report observations of the breeding of a pair of Red-wattled Lapwings, over a four-year period on a corrugated asbestos roof of a bungalow in Mumbai. Study area & methods The study was undertaken in Deonar, Mumbai (19°03’00.55”N, 72°55’07.33”E), an urban area dominated by residential and commercial buildings and busy roads, with a few patches of gardens (10). A pair of Red-wattled Lapwings was observed between the months of February and June in 2008 and 2011. They frequented a plot of land with a single storey bungalow with Peculiar choice of nesting of Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus in an urban area in Mumbai, Maharashtra Adithi Muralidhar & Sahas Barve Muralidhar, A., Barve, S., 2013. Peculiar choice of nesting of Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus in an urban area in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Indian BIRDS 8 (1): 6–9. Adithi Muralidhar, Email: adits.mdhar@gmail.com Sahas Barve, Email: sahasbarve@gmail.com Manuscript received on 29 January 2012. Abstract In this age of urbanisation, certain birds have started to adapt to the rapid anthropogenic changes to the environment. This is exemplified by the Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus, a ground-nesting species that is now known to breed near dense human habitation, and even on the roofs of buildings. A pair of lapwings was observed over a period of four years in Deonar, Mumbai, on a corrugated asbestos roof of a bungalow. Breeding behavior was studied during the years 2008 and 2011, from February to May. Specific parameters quantified were: clutch size, incubation period, behavior of both parents, hatching success, mortality of the chicks, and possible causes of mortality. Roles of the parents were observed from a few days prior to nest construction upto the time when the chicks were no more sighted. This communication not only presents the description of successive nesting attempts at the same location, but also provides a review of other such notes on this species. 10: The bungalow, on the roof of which the lapwings nested. The arrows indicate their nesting site in 2008 and 2011. Photos: A. Muralidhar Indian BIRDS VOL. 8 NO. 1 (PUBL. 29 JANUARY 2013) 6