Which McDonald's breakfast character was introduced in 1980 as the “Early Bird”?

Birdie the Early Bird was the McDonald's breakfast character introduced in 1980.

McDonald's created Birdie to support the growing importance of breakfast in its restaurant branding. The yellow bird wore a pink outfit and aviator-style accessories, linking the character visually with the idea of getting up early for a morning meal. Birdie joined the expanding McDonaldland cast rather than replacing Ronald McDonald.

The character is sometimes confused with Mayor McCheese or Officer Big Mac, both of whom were humanized food-themed figures in the same advertising universe. Birdie's defining role was breakfast promotion.

Birdie appeared in commercials, packaging, and other promotional material during a period when McDonald's was strengthening its breakfast identity. Her introduction shows how the company used separate characters to give different menu categories their own personalities.