B737-800
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Inflight Event / Encounter Bird / Animal
Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Environment - Non Weather Related
[After takeoff; at] approximately 200 feet [AGL] we hit birds. We ingested them into the right engine.There was an immediate noise; slight yaw; erratic N1;N2 and associated engine instruments for a brief second (on the right engine) before they stabilized.The Pilot Monitoring and I (Flying Pilot) then noticed a burning smell. We agreed that returning to [departure airport] was the best course of action.The Captain notified the Flight Attendants; who heard the noise and also smelled the burnt feathers in the cabin; that we were returning. The engine was performing normally at this time; [I advised] that we would return to [departure airport]; stop on the runway while we were inspected by the local emergency ground personnel and then return to the gate. We notified Ramp/Operations to coordinate a new gate; finished the after take-off climb check; then started and completed the before landing checklist. We were below max landing weight. Actual weight was 141;300.Landing was uneventful; we coordinated with AARF to secure the right engine for inspection. They followed us to the gate where passengers deplaned and maintenance took the plane out of service.
[Report narrative contained no additional information.]
B737-800 flight crew reported returning to departure airport after ingesting birds into the right engine.