What is Bird Process on Mac and Why It Causes High CPU Usage
If you‘ve opened Activity Monitor on your Mac and noticed a process called "bird" consuming an unusually high percentage of CPU resources, you‘re not alone. Many Mac users have encountered this issue and wondered what exactly the bird process is and why it‘s causing their machine to slow to a crawl.
As an experienced Mac technician who has helped countless users troubleshoot this very problem over the years, I‘m here to provide an in-depth explanation of the bird process, the common causes of its high CPU usage, and a step-by-step guide on how to resolve the issue and get your Mac running smoothly again.
What Exactly is the Bird Process?
First, let‘s clarify what bird is and what role it plays on your Mac. The bird process is part of macOS‘s iCloud syncing functionality. Its main job is to upload files, photos, notes, reminders, and other data from your Mac to iCloud‘s servers so that all your Apple devices stay in sync. Think of it as a worker bee tirelessly ferrying data back and forth between the hive (iCloud) and the flowers (your Mac and other devices).
Normally, the bird process runs quietly in the background without consuming too many system resources. If it‘s working properly, you likely won‘t even notice it‘s there. However, when the bird process starts eating up an excessive amount of CPU (often spiking to 70% or higher), that‘s a surefire sign something has gone wrong.
Top Causes of High CPU Usage by the Bird Process
There are several common culprits that can send the bird process‘s CPU usage skyrocketing:
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Syncing a large volume of data to iCloud – If you have a sizable number of files set to sync to iCloud and they were recently changed, bird has to work overtime to get everything uploaded. While some temporary high CPU is normal in this case, if it goes on for hours there may be an underlying issue.
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Issues with iCloud servers or your internet connection – Sometimes the problem lies on Apple‘s end. If iCloud is experiencing a service disruption, it can get "stuck" trying to sync. Other times your own internet connection is to blame.
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Corrupt files are being synced – When the bird process encounters a damaged file, it may get hung up trying to upload it, causing CPU usage to spike and stay high.
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Problems with bird‘s cache files – Like many processes, bird uses cache files to run more efficiently. Over time these can become bloated or corrupted.
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Bugs in macOS system software – Less common, but tricky to resolve, are issues within macOS itself that affect iCloud syncing and the bird process. Usually these crop up after upgrading to a new major version of macOS.
Step-By-Step Troubleshooting Guide
When you notice the bird process is consuming high CPU for an extended period, here‘s how to go about troubleshooting and resolving the problem:
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Wait a while to see if CPU usage subsides on its own. Sometimes bird just needs time to finish syncing a large batch of changes.
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Check Apple‘s iCloud status page to see if there are any known service outages that could be impacting syncing.
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If bird is still churning away, try force quitting it. Open Activity Monitor, select bird, then click the X stop icon and choose Force Quit. Bird will restart on its own.
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Turn off and back on iCloud syncing for Desktop & Documents Folders and iCloud Drive. Open System Preferences > Apple ID > iCloud and uncheck those two options. Restart your Mac. Then re-enable those iCloud services.
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If bird‘s CPU usage remains high, restart your Mac. This clears out temporary files and gives bird a clean slate.
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Make sure you‘re running the latest macOS version which will have the most up-to-date iCloud syncing fixes and optimizations. Head to System Preferences > Software Update to check.
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Delete the bird process cache files. In the Finder, select Go > Go to Folder and enter ~/Library/Caches. Find and delete the folder called com.apple.bird. Bird will recreate this as needed.
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Move aside iCloud‘s cache files too. In the Finder, once again select Go > Go to Folder and this time enter ~/Library/Application Support/iCloud/Accounts. Move the files in that Accounts folder to a new location like your Desktop (don‘t delete them just yet in case this doesn‘t resolve the issue). Restart your Mac and it will recreate fresh copies of these files.
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If you have an Intel Mac, try resetting the SMC. This can resolve issues with runaway processes. The steps vary based on your Mac model, so check Apple‘s official guide.
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As a last resort on Intel Macs, reset NVRAM which stores data related to your Mac‘s startup processes and can help if the bird issue is being caused by macOS system problems.
If you‘ve tried all these steps and bird is still chewing through CPU, it‘s time to contact Apple Support so they can do more advanced diagnostics and determine if you‘re encountering a novel bug or other unusual situation.
The Bottom Line
While the bird process playing fast and loose with your CPU resources is annoying, it‘s a problem that can usually be resolved using the troubleshooting steps outlined above. Just work through them one-by-one until you hit on the solution that brings bird back in line.
To prevent this issue cropping up in the first place, keep on top of macOS updates, periodically tidy up your iCloud synced files, folders, and photo library, and consider upgrading to a high-speed broadband connection if you‘re not already on one. Equipped with this knowledge and advice, you now have the tools to show that unruly bird process who‘s boss.