What was the name of McDonald's 1970s breakfast advertising character shaped like a chicken?

Birdie the Early Bird was McDonald's 1970s breakfast advertising character shaped like a chicken.

McDonald's introduced Birdie to promote its breakfast menu, which became an increasingly important part of the chain's identity during the 1970s. The character was a yellow bird with a pink flight suit and goggles, visually linking her to the idea of getting up early for breakfast. Her name reinforced that message directly.

Birdie is sometimes confused with other fast-food bird characters or with McDonald's later food mascots. She was specifically associated with breakfast, while characters such as the Hamburglar and Grimace represented other parts of the McDonaldland cast. The existing McDonaldland world gave the company a way to connect separate products to memorable personalities.

Her role illustrates how McDonald's expanded its branding beyond the restaurant sign. Breakfast advertising used a character, a name, and a visual costume to make a relatively new daypart easier for children and families to recognize.