Which McDonald's character was the company's first official female mascot?

Birdie the Early Bird was McDonald's first official female mascot.

McDonald's introduced Birdie in 1980 as part of its breakfast marketing. Her character design and name connected her with early mornings, making her a natural spokesperson for the company's growing breakfast business.

Birdie joined a cast whose best-known earlier figures were mostly male or nonhuman characters, including Ronald McDonald, Mayor McCheese, the Hamburglar, and Grimace. Her addition expanded the range of personalities available in McDonaldland advertising.

The title “first official female mascot” is sometimes confused with the many female characters that appeared in individual McDonald's commercials or local promotions. Birdie is the nationally recognized McDonaldland character generally identified with that role. She was also a breakfast mascot, so her significance was both demographic and product-related.