In McDonald's branding history, which character appeared in the 1980s as the chain's first breakfast mascot?

Birdie the Early Bird appeared in the 1980s as McDonald's first breakfast mascot.

McDonald's introduced Birdie to promote its breakfast menu and to extend McDonaldland character branding into a new daypart. The character was a yellow bird dressed in clothing associated with breakfast service, reinforcing the message that McDonald's breakfast was available early in the day.

Birdie was part of the wider McDonaldland cast, but her purpose differed from characters such as the Hamburglar and Mayor McCheese. She was tied specifically to breakfast products and morning advertising rather than the general fantasy setting.

The character is sometimes confused with later McDonald's food mascots or with generic cartoon birds used in advertising. “Birdie the Early Bird” is the specific branded character name connected with the chain's breakfast promotion.