Which McDonald's character was a breakfast-themed yellow bird introduced in advertising in 1980?

Birdie the Early Bird was the breakfast-themed yellow bird introduced in McDonald’s advertising in 1980.

Birdie was created to promote McDonald’s breakfast menu and to give the growing breakfast business a dedicated character. The character appeared in McDonaldland advertising alongside established figures such as Ronald McDonald, Grimace, and the Hamburglar.

Her name directly communicated the advertising idea: Birdie was an early riser associated with morning meals. This made her different from characters whose identities centered on hamburgers, fish sandwiches, or general McDonaldland storytelling.

Birdie’s introduction came after McDonald’s had established breakfast as an important part of its brand. She is sometimes confused with other bird characters from unrelated advertising, but the official McDonald’s name is Birdie the Early Bird.