What was the name of McDonald's first female advertising mascot, introduced in 1980?

McDonald's first female advertising mascot, introduced in 1980, was Birdie the Early Bird.

Birdie was created to promote McDonald's breakfast menu and appeared as a yellow bird wearing a pink flight suit and aviator accessories. Her design connected the character directly with the company's growing breakfast business.

She joined an expanding McDonald's advertising world that already included Ronald McDonald, Grimace, the Hamburglar, and the Fry Kids. Birdie's role was more specific than Ronald's: she represented breakfast and the idea of starting the day early.

Birdie is sometimes confused with later food-related characters or with the Fry Kids, who were a separate group of colorful mascots. Her 1980 debut makes her an important milestone in the development of McDonald's character branding.