What was the name of McDonald's early-1980s mascot who promoted breakfast as the “Early Bird”?

McDonald's introduced Birdie the Early Bird as a mascot promoting its breakfast menu in 1980.

Birdie was a yellow bird character associated with the expanding McDonald's breakfast business. Her name directly connected her identity with early mornings, helping the company give its breakfast advertising a distinct character within the larger McDonaldland world.

She joined other branded figures such as Ronald McDonald, Grimace, the Hamburglar, and Mayor McCheese. These characters helped McDonald's present menu items and restaurant visits as part of a colorful fictional universe, especially in advertising aimed at children and families.

Birdie is sometimes confused with later McDonald's mascots or with the breakfast products themselves. The “Early Bird” title identifies Birdie specifically; it is not the name of a breakfast sandwich or a separate advertising slogan.