Then-unknown Danny Glover was scheduled to make a speech as a bit player, but because he kept botching his lines his scenes had to be cut from the movie.
Birds who acted in the film had their own bird billing section in the movie's closing credits.
First use of the skycam in a feature film. It was a camera held by wires supported by four cranes and controlled by computer, and was used in Birdy's dream sequence of actually being able to fly. It was designed by Steadicam inventor Garret Brown.
In the novel, the veterans served in World War II. This was changed to Vietnam for the film.