Which McDonald's mascot was designed as a flying character associated with breakfast?

Birdie the Early Bird was the McDonald's mascot designed as a flying character associated with breakfast.

McDonald's introduced Birdie in 1980 as part of a campaign supporting the company's breakfast menu. She was a yellow bird with aviation-themed details, including a flying-cap style appearance, linking her character to the idea of arriving early for breakfast.

Birdie joined the established McDonaldland cast rather than replacing Ronald McDonald. Her role gave McDonald's a mascot specifically tied to the breakfast daypart, a useful branding distinction as breakfast became an important part of the chain's menu identity.

The character is sometimes mixed up with the Fry Kids, who represented french fries, or with Ronald McDonald, the central clown mascot. Birdie's purpose was narrower and more product-related: she helped communicate McDonald's morning offerings through a recognizable character.