Which McDonald's character was a female canary introduced in 1980?

Birdie the Early Bird was the female canary introduced by McDonald's in 1980.

Birdie was created to promote McDonald's breakfast menu, which had become an important part of the company's business. Her name and design linked her directly to the idea of early mornings, while her bright yellow appearance fit the colorful style of McDonaldland advertising.

The character joined an established cast that included Ronald McDonald, the Hamburglar, Grimace, and Mayor McCheese. Unlike characters centered on burgers, fries, or milkshakes, Birdie gave the breakfast side of the brand its own mascot. She appeared in commercials, promotional materials, and restaurant merchandise.

Birdie is sometimes incorrectly described as a generic bird or as a canary created during McDonald's original 1950s branding period. The documented character arrived in 1980, decades after the company began. Her introduction reflects how McDonald's used new mascots to support specific menu categories as the restaurant expanded beyond its original hamburger-focused identity.