What was the name of McDonald's first breakfast-oriented McDonaldland character, introduced in 1980?

Birdie the Early Bird was McDonald's first breakfast-oriented McDonaldland character, introduced in 1980.

Birdie was created to support McDonald's growing breakfast business. She was presented as an energetic yellow bird wearing a flight suit and aviator-style accessories, linking her identity to the idea of being an early riser.

The character helped give McDonald's breakfast menu a distinct personality within the wider McDonaldland advertising world. Her introduction followed the expansion of breakfast items across the chain and gave children a recognizable figure associated with morning visits.

Birdie is sometimes confused with the earlier characters Grimace and the Hamburglar, but her defining role was breakfast promotion. She was also introduced after Ronald McDonald and the first major group of McDonaldland characters, making her part of the brand's later character development rather than its original mascot era.