Yup, that’s a male mallard (the females are just brown) and they’re pretty common in Boston in the spring until they migrate south for winter. That’s the breed of duck featured in the children’s book “Make Way for Ducklings” that (a) takes place in and around the commons (b) has an annual duck parade of children dressed like the ducks and (c) is commemorated in statue form there in the garden.
For all parents out there, if you read “Make Way for Ducklings” (Robert McCloskey) to your kids — Boston’s Public Garden is the setting. The story names Charles river and Mt Vernon street and it’s obvious if you know the place. Cute, cute story – Thanks for sharing the pictures!
It’s definitely a favorite book in our house. I’m just sad we weren’t able to make the Duckling Parade this year…we were flying back to Boston from DC that day and had to head directly to Maine. Another year!
We got married less than a block away on Comm Ave and many of our Wedding Photo Formals also are in the Public Garden–it’s such a gorgeous backdrop (and one instantly recognizable as Boston if there are swan boats or the Ducklings Statues, etc in the frame).
Expat Bostonians 
is that a real duck? what a beauty
Yup, that’s a male mallard (the females are just brown) and they’re pretty common in Boston in the spring until they migrate south for winter. That’s the breed of duck featured in the children’s book “Make Way for Ducklings” that (a) takes place in and around the commons (b) has an annual duck parade of children dressed like the ducks and (c) is commemorated in statue form there in the garden.
For all parents out there, if you read “Make Way for Ducklings” (Robert McCloskey) to your kids — Boston’s Public Garden is the setting. The story names Charles river and Mt Vernon street and it’s obvious if you know the place. Cute, cute story – Thanks for sharing the pictures!
-jeff
It’s definitely a favorite book in our house. I’m just sad we weren’t able to make the Duckling Parade this year…we were flying back to Boston from DC that day and had to head directly to Maine. Another year!
We got married less than a block away on Comm Ave and many of our Wedding Photo Formals also are in the Public Garden–it’s such a gorgeous backdrop (and one instantly recognizable as Boston if there are swan boats or the Ducklings Statues, etc in the frame).