What was the name of McDonald's first major breakfast advertising character, introduced in 1980?

Birdie the Early Bird was McDonald's first major breakfast advertising character, introduced in 1980.

McDonald's created Birdie to promote its growing breakfast business. The character was a yellow bird wearing flight goggles and a pink flight suit, a design that connected her name and appearance with the idea of being early. Her advertising role helped make breakfast at McDonald's more recognizable to families.

Birdie appeared in McDonaldland commercials and promotional material alongside established characters such as Ronald McDonald and Grimace. She represented the breakfast menu rather than a single burger or dessert product.

The character is sometimes confused with later breakfast promotions or with generic bird imagery used in restaurant advertising. Birdie's identifying title is “the Early Bird,” and her 1980 introduction made her an important addition to McDonald's branded character lineup.