India, May 24 -- Birds and trees are perceived as synonymous. But when it comes to the red-wattled lapwing (titeeri), the probability of observing one on a tree is about as remote as the pink-headed duck bobbing on the Sukhna lake's rippling surface. This is so because the lapwing lacks the toes required for gripping branches, especially the critical hind toe which is absent or very underdeveloped in the species. The lapwing thus prefers open ground where it can glimpse a long distance and secure 'early warnings' of predators. If there are too many trees around lapwings, then it can work to their disadvantage as the leafy boughs can hide hawks that can swoop down and surprise lapwings. "Lapwings are strictly ground perchers as they lack the hind toe to grasp branches. They can sit on other flatter surfaces like a rock, building roofs, etc., but not on trees," Prof. Gurpartap Singh told this writer. I collated some fascinating facts and anecdotes from the lapwing's natural history to reveal the wondrous world of this 'commoner, not rare, plain Jane' bird that has adapted marvellously to survive all the proverbial stones hurled at it by 'manunkind'. (i) Strongly territorial and bold, the lapwing does not tolerate any kind of intruder...observed driving away a cobra...a pair defended its nest/chicks by attacking a tiger at Jogi Mahal, Ranthambore (HS Sangha) (ii) A pair laid its eggs amid a heap of ballast between railway tracks in Ghosrana (Rajasthan), 1941, and every time a train came, the incubating lapwing flew up, returning immediately as the train left! (Charles McCann) (iii) in the days of shikar, lapwings (like ruddy shelducks) were a great source of annoyance to sportsman, spoiling his stalk by its ceaseless vigilance and frantic screaming, betraying him to the quarry...Flight rather slow but capable of astonishingly agile turns and twists and other antics when hunted with trained hawks (Dr Salim Ali) (iv) Historical data of IAF stations revealed that lapwings were notably involved in nocturnal aircraft bird strikes particularly around full-moon nights (V. Sharma and S. Srinidhi)...