Bird's mother died when she was three. Her father was ex-United States Navy and worked long hours. Although she had two brothers, she more or less raised herself.

She appeared in just three films: Two-Lane Blacktop (1971), Cockfighter (1974), and a small role in Annie Hall (1977). Bird was the still photographer on Cockfighter, and shot the cover photo for Art Garfunkel's 1977 album Watermark. She was romantically involved with her Blacktop and Cockfighter director Monte Hellman, and later with Garfunkel for several years.

In 1979, Bird committed suicide in the apartment she shared with Garfunkel in New York. At Bird's funeral, her father revealed her mother's death, which was thought to be from ovarian cancer, was also a suicide.

She was briefly featured in the 2006 documentary film Wanderlust.