It was developed by Bing McCoy who designed a number of successful toys in the late 1970s including Electronic Battleship and ROM the Spaceknight.
The Star Bird manual describes it as "THE AMAZING SPACESHIP with realistic engine sounds and flashing laser blasts".
A button at the rear of the cockpit activates the LEDs at the front of the toy, along with a blast noise, to simulate the firing of its lasers.
Unlike the other models, this version came in one piece, was available in two paint schemes (Red and White, and Silvery-Gray and Black), and sported foldout wheels and plastic missile projectiles.
[1][2] In accordance to local markets' demands the packaging for the Star Bird was manufactured in English, French, Spanish,[citation needed] German (Supervogel)[3] and Dutch.