Which McDonaldland character did McDonald's introduce in 1980 to promote breakfast?

McDonald's introduced Birdie the Early Bird in 1980 to promote its breakfast menu. She was a yellow, bird-like McDonaldland character whose name emphasized the idea of getting up early for breakfast.

Birdie expanded McDonald's character branding beyond Ronald McDonald and the restaurant's earlier cast of food-themed figures. Her design included a pink flight suit and goggles, giving the character a recognizable visual identity in television commercials, packaging, and promotional materials.

The character is sometimes confused with later breakfast promotions, but Birdie's defining role was as McDonald's breakfast mascot. She was also notable because she became the first female McDonaldland character.

McDonald's breakfast had been introduced nationally in the 1970s, after franchisee Herb Peterson developed the Egg McMuffin in California. Birdie's arrival helped give that growing menu category a dedicated character and a distinct advertising presence.