Which McDonald's character debuted in 1980 as an early-morning breakfast mascot?

Birdie the Early Bird debuted in 1980 as McDonald's breakfast mascot.

McDonald's introduced Birdie during a period when the company was promoting breakfast more aggressively. The yellow bird was associated with early mornings and breakfast foods, giving the chain a character specifically tied to the daypart rather than to hamburgers or fries.

Birdie joined the wider McDonaldland cast, which had already become a major part of McDonald's advertising and packaging. Unlike Ronald McDonald, Birdie's role was closely connected with breakfast, and her appearance helped give the growing breakfast menu a distinct identity.

She is sometimes confused with generic cartoon birds used in food advertising. Birdie's identifying name is “Birdie the Early Bird,” and her 1980 debut places her later than several original McDonaldland characters.